Commentary and insights

Informed opinion, guidance and commentary on issues of interest to HR.

This tool includes:

  • Commentary and debate on HR and workplace practices.
  • Guidance and opinion on employment law developments.

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Employment Rights Act 2025 Hub

Your overview of employment law developments that are in the pipeline, where you can learn what's happening, what might be happening and what isn't happening. We also set out how you can start preparing for upcoming changes.

Latest items in Commentary and insights

  • Employment Rights Act 2025 Hub

    Date:
    16 July 2026

    The Government published an update to its timeline for the implementation of the Employment Rights Act 2025 on 16 July 2026. The updated timeline confirms that changes to harassment legislation and the next phase of trade union reforms will come into force on 30 October 2026. Measures to strengthen tipping law have been pushed back to later in the year.

  • Reintegration after incarceration: Challenging the workplace stigma against ex-offenders

    Date:
    15 July 2026

    If you were sent to prison, would you know how to rebuild your life? Would you be able to trust in an inclusive, fair and progressive employment system? Georgie Williams considers the first steps employers can take to open their doors to formerly incarcerated workers and be part of the DEI movement towards post-carceral reintegration.

  • Bank holidays: six things employers need to know

    Date:
    10 July 2026

    Are employees entitled to extra pay for working on bank holidays? What does an employer do if an employee refuses to work on a bank holiday? How should bank holidays be managed for part-time employees? We explain how to deal with some of the most common issues public holidays can raise.

  • Employment tribunal hearing delays: A temporary challenge or the new normal?

    Date:
    9 July 2026

    The employment tribunal system is already overloaded and from October 2026 the Employment Rights Act 2025 increases the time limit for making claims to six months. Does this spell "the death of labour law", asks Max Winthrop as he looks at some of the issues HR face when claims are made and offers advice on what steps they can take.

  • HR for HR: How will the ERA statutory sick pay changes affect short-term work absences?

    Date:
    30 June 2026

    In April, the Employment Rights Act 2025 (ERA) introduced significant changes to statutory sick pay (SSP) eligibility. How will these reforms influence employee attitudes to taking sick leave, and how can organisations adapt their processes and culture to achieve the best results? Caroline Green asked HR professionals to share their insights.

  • The future of flexible working starts with HR

    Date:
    26 June 2026

    Flexible working is reshaping workplace expectations. With further changes due under the Employment Rights Act 2025 next year, Charlotte Wiseman and Olivia Arnold, of leading organisational consultancy Step Inside Group, explore the implications for HR teams, managers and employees, and outline a blueprint of what best practice looks like for organisations.

  • Practical action over performativity: Reforming your Pride efforts

    Date:
    18 June 2026

    This Pride Month, the UK's LGBTQ+ rights ranking has fallen to its lowest point in Western Europe. Gender and sexuality consultant Georgie Williams offers an impassioned and expert view on what employers and individuals can do to move beyond "pinkwashing" and embed meaningful LGBTQ+ inclusion in the workplace.

  • Unfair dismissal reforms: Rethinking probationary periods

    Date:
    11 June 2026

    As unfair dismissal protections tighten, many organisations are now rethinking how they operate their probationary periods. We explore how organisations are responding in light of the upcoming changes and what this means for probationary practices.

  • Summer 2026: Eight potential issues for HR

    Date:
    1 June 2026

    HR professionals in the UK face some unique challenges and employment issues in the summer of 2026. These include increased uncertainty over workers' annual leave plans because of world events; public transport disruption leading to attendance issues; and a heatwave meaning that employers should monitor workplace temperatures to ensure that they do not become unreasonable. It is also a World Cup year, which brings its own specific problems around absence, holiday and conduct.

  • Dealing with employee grievances in an AI-enabled world

    Date:
    28 May 2026

    Workplace grievances written with the assistance of generative AI are on the rise, increasing the pressure on HR departments and line managers. Katherine Pope offers guidance to help employers deal fairly and efficiently with lengthy, legal citation-rich documents that sometimes obscure rather than reveal the core issues.

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