Three months just became six: the new tribunal time limits
Waiting for that potential claim to land? As of today, three months just became six. From 1 October 2026, the time limit for bringing most employment tribunal claims doubles. In some situations, it effectively triples. If you have ever closed the file on a difficult exit once the three-month mark passed, that habit stops being […]
Fixed-term contracts and the new six-month unfair dismissal rule: what does it mean for your business?
From 1 January 2027, your fixed-term employees will be able to claim unfair dismissal after just six months. It is a change that could catch out even the most careful employer. Here is what you need to have on your radar. What is changing? The Employment Rights Act 2025 cuts the qualifying period for unfair […]
AI-Generated Grievances and how to handle them
A grievance lands on your desk. Twenty-eight pages. Forty numbered allegations. References to legislation, codes of practice, and case law you’ve never heard of. Underneath it all: one refused homeworking request from August. That single refusal has been reframed five different ways: a flexible working breach, indirect sex discrimination, a failure to make reasonable adjustments, […]
Employment law under our new Prime Minister, what should UK SME employers expect?
With Parliament in its summer recess, now is a good time to take stock of where employment law reform actually stands, and to look ahead to what promises to be a busy autumn and new year. Many of the reforms under the Employment Rights Act 2025 (ERA) are still to come into force. With a […]
What does the ACAS proposals to rewrite the Disciplinary and Grievance Code for SME? The biggest change since 2009
Employment tribunals have long judged employers on whether they followed a fair disciplinary or grievance process. That yardstick is about to shift. ACAS has launched a consultation on a brand-new Code of Practice on Disciplinary and Grievance Procedures. It’s the first full rewrite of the Code since 2009, and it puts early, informal resolution front […]
Trade Union right of access: what does it mean for your business?
New rights are coming that change how trade unions can engage with your workforce. Here is what is already in place, what is changing, and what you need to do before it lands. What right do unions already have to communicate with workers? Trade unions already have defined rights to communicate with your people during […]
The Fair Work Agency: What SMEs need to know right now
Employment law has been shifting fast. New rules, updated rights, changing expectations. And as of 7 April 2026, a new government body is responsible for making sure businesses are actually following them. It’s called the Fair Work Agency and it’s part of the government’s wider ‘Make Work Pay’ agenda, aimed at tackling workplace exploitation and […]
What is TUPE and when does it apply?
TUPE stands for Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment). As a business owner or decisionmaker within a business, you may have been through a business sale, acquisition, or outsourcing of a service. The chances are you will have heard your HR Consultant or legal adviser giving consideration to whether TUPE applies to the situation. According […]
Why are employment probation reviews so important?
The government is proposing radical reforms to employment law in the soon to be implemented Employment Rights Bill. The house of lords has suggested replacing the day one right unfair dismissal protection with a six-month qualifying period, the government prefers 9 months, but employers can choose 6 months and extend if needed. What does the revised […]
Employment Rights Bill amendments and Roadmap
The employment rights bill was introduced in the House of Commons on 10th October 2024. The bill is currently in the legislative process with various stages of review and amendment and phased implementation. The government has recently backed some amendments to the employment rights bill; we wanted to update you on what these are, and […]