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:
    2 June 2026

    The Government has opened a consultation on its proposed Employment Rights Act 2025 reforms of zero hours and similar contracts, in which it is seeking views on how the new rights will operate in practice, including eligibility, reference periods and implementation.

  • 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.

  • Demystifying the EU Pay Transparency Directive for UK employers

    Date:
    20 May 2026

    The EU Pay Transparency Directive introduces a wide range of measures and increases pay transparency and reporting requirements. This guide looks at how the Directive impacts UK employers.

  • Employment Rights Act 2025 trade union law changes - your questions answered

    Date:
    20 May 2026

    The Employment Rights Act 2025 contains many reforms to trade union-related workplace legislation. Employment lawyer and trade union relations specialist Nick Chronias recently presented a Brightmine webinar on the subject. Here he answers some of the questions he didn't have time to address during the session.

  • Beyond the degree: The rise of skills-based hiring

    Date:
    6 May 2026

    As skills shortages persist and roles evolve, employers are rethinking what "qualified" really means. The latest Brightmine research examines the rise of skills-based hiring and how organisations are putting it into practice.

  • The ERA era - the changes implemented so far

    Date:
    1 May 2026

    The Employment Rights Bill, described as "the greatest shift in employment legislation in decades", received Royal Assent on 18 December 2025 and passed into law as the Employment Rights Act 2025 (ERA). That doesn't mean all the workplace law reforms it contains came into force immediately, however. Here we set out the changes that have been enacted so far - and what HR should do about them.

  • Employment Rights Act 2025 - how do you prepare for the unknown?

    Date:
    29 April 2026

    There is a lot we know about the zero hours contract measures contained in the Employment Rights Act 2025 - and quite a lot we still don't know about how they will work in practice when they are finally implemented next year. Rochelle Murinas offers guidance on how organisations can begin to prepare in the face of uncertainty.

  • World Cup 2026: Employers' guide to workplace implications

    Date:
    28 April 2026

    Employers are likely to see a significant amount of interest among their workforces in the World Cup 2026, so they should plan ahead to make the most of the impact that this large sporting event can have on staff morale, while also aiming to minimise disruption.

  • Managing sickness absence: Tools HR professionals rely on

    Date:
    23 April 2026

    Return to work meetings are central to absence management, but they're not the only tool employers rely on. Drawing on insights from HR professionals at the Brightmine sick pay and absence webinar, we explore the practical tools organisations use to manage absence effectively, and why both consistency and flexibility matter.

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