P&O Ferries Redundancy Case: What Went Wrong and Lessons for Employers on UK Employment Law
In this article, we examine the actions of P&O Ferries, which led to public outcry at the time, and consider what they should have done instead in line with UK employment law. P&O Ferries became a case study on how not to manage redundancy dismissals, following the way in which they dismissed 786 employees back in […]
Employment Rights Bill 2024: Advice for SMEs and HR Professionals
Just 24 hours after the Employment Rights Bill 2024 was published, here’s our expert advice for SMEs and HR professionals. First of all, even though the scale of the employment reforms are, in our opinion, the largest we have seen in decades, it is a huge relief that the majority of reforms are coming into […]
The Employment Rights Bill 2024: Zero-Hour Contracts, Day-One Rights, and the End of Fire and Rehire
Today (Thursday, 10 October), the Employment Rights Bill 2024 has been introduced, marking the most significant reform in employment law in decades. The primary aim of this bill is to legislate enhanced employment rights and ban exploitative practices. The Employment Rights Bill 2024 seeks to end exploitative zero-hour contracts and fire-and-rehire practices. It will give […]
Employment Tribunal and Employment Appeal Tribunal Fees Set to Be Introduced in November 2024
The UK Government is expected to implement a fee structure for claims submitted to the Employment Tribunal (ET) and Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) starting in November 2024. These changes are designed to ensure that the system remains affordable, proportionate, and simple for all users while addressing the need for financial sustainability within the tribunal system. […]
Upcoming Legislation – Key Changes Employers Need to Know
A series of significant legislative changes are set to reshape the employment landscape for businesses across the UK. From tipping policies to sexual harassment responsibilities and pension age increases, this upcoming legislation will have a widespread impact on employers and employees alike. It’s crucial for businesses to stay informed and proactive to ensure compliance and […]
Labour’s Employment Law Plans: Only 38% of employers have started planning for the upcoming changes
In our recent webinar, now available on demand, we discussed the employment landscape post the General Election, including the new Employment Rights Bill and its significant implications for employers. We also explored Labour’s employment law plans for this parliamentary year and the 5-year term in Government. It’s clear that the promised changes have the potential […]
Labour Government Employment Changes 2024
Introduction In this Hot Topic, we consider the impact of the recent General Election, on the employment landscape and what it will mean for business owners and HR practitioners. We explore: The new parliamentary Bills that are to be introduced impacting employment Our recommendations for how businesses can prepare for these changes Legislation that has […]
Pros and Cons of a Four-Day Work Week For Your Business
As companies across the globe explore innovative approaches to enhance employee well-being and business performance, the concept of a four-day work week has gained considerable attention. This approach has been tested in various pilots and trials, yielding positive outcomes such as improved employee retention, better mental health, and even increased revenues. Many organisations that participated […]
Upcoming Employment Legislation: What Employers Need to Prepare For
Over the next few years, significant employment legislation will come into effect, impacting various aspects of the workplace. Employers must stay informed about these changes to ensure compliance and adapt their policies accordingly. Below is an overview of the upcoming employment legislation, their commencement dates, and what they mean for employers and employees. Legislation by […]
Key Employment Bills Announced in the 2024/25 King’s Speech
On 17th July, the Government outlined its priorities for 2024/25 in the King’s Speech, including several key Employment Bills 2024/25 that could significantly impact the workplace. Among the various Employment Bills 2024/25 proposed, four stand out for their potential influence on employment law: The Children’s Wellbeing Bill Whilst this is not purely an employment Bill, […]
Update to the dismissal and re-engagement code of practice
On 18th July, a new statutory Code of Practice on Dismissal and Re-engagement came into effect across England, Scotland, and Wales. This code introduces specific procedures that employers must follow when considering the dismissal and re-engagement of employees—a practice commonly known as ‘fire and rehire’. The Code emphasises that this approach should be used only […]
Prepare for the 2024/25 Government Policy Changes: 5 Key Steps for Employers
Following the King’s speech on 17 July 2024, we now have a clearer idea of the Government’s priorities for 2024/25. Significant changes are expected, although details are still to be published. Given the potential impact, we advise employers to start preparing for the 2024/25 Government Policy Changes now to ensure their business is ready. Here […]
UK riots 2024 | Guidance on keeping staff and premises safe
Following the tragic killing of three young girls in Southport on 29 July, anti-immigrant and far-right unrest has erupted across numerous cities and towns in England and in Belfast in Northern Ireland. This has been the worst outbreak of civil disorder in Britain in 13 years, with police having made 378 arrests at the time […]
UK riots 2024 | Can you dismiss employees for conduct outside of work?
Employees are entitled to their private lives but, on occasion, their conduct outside of work can have a direct impact on the working relationship. In the past couple of weeks, violent unrest has broken out across the UK following a tragic knife attack on children and their dance teachers in Southport, Merseyside. Following misinformation posted […]
UK riots 2024 | Managing workplace closures and addressing staff safety concerns
With violent protests breaking out across the UK, many workers are “fearing for their safety” as rioters turn to looting. Ensuring the safety and wellbeing of staff is paramount, and from an employment law perspective, there are implications to keep in mind. Below, we outline the steps employers should take if they find themselves needing to close […]
The changes in employment law affecting the management of business transfers
The Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) (TUPE) is a common business process and one which relies on both HR and the business working closely together to ensure a smooth business transition. In this Hot Topic we look at recent developments in this legislation as well as how the legislation may further develop under a […]
Morrisons fail to overturn court ruling that found not them guilty of taking steps to mitigate risks posed by an employee’s medical condition
In 2023, Morrisons Supermarket was fined £3.5 million for failing to prevent the death of a store worker who had epilepsy and were convicted for three health and safety offences. At the end of last month, the company lost their bid to overturn this ruling. This is a tragic accident which lead to Morrisons being […]
New Code of Practice – Dismissal and Re-engagement
A new statutory code on dismissal and re-engagement has come into force across England, Scotland, and Wales this month. This code imposes set procedures for when an employer dismisses and rehires a worker, a practice commonly known as ‘fire and re-hire’. The Code stipulates that dismissal and re-engagement should be a last resort after a […]
Labour Government Employment Changes
We now know that Labour will form the next Government, so what happens next and what does it mean for employment? With the labour government employment changes, businesses and employees alike are eager to understand the impact and timeline of these new policies. While Labour has committed to introducing legislation within their first 100 days, […]
TUPE Transfers
You will recall that we have already seen parts of the Employment Rights (Amendment, Revocation and Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2024 introduced this year specifically relating to holiday entitlement and pay and working time records. Next month, we shall see the last of the changes come into effect which relate to TUPE transfers. For TUPE transfers […]
