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- Date:
- 8 June 2026
- Type:
- News
As immigration and sponsorship rules tighten and pay rates determine whether workers can be employed in the UK, a recently highlighted tribunal case has cast light on whether an employer can lawfully pay a sponsored worker more than a non-sponsored worker doing the same role.
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- Type:
- How to
The Employment Rights Act 2025 reduces the qualifying period for unfair dismissal to six months from 1 January 2027. Employers should consider the impact this will have on probationary periods and whether they need to implement any changes in time for the new rules. This guide has been updated to include guidance for employers on preparing for the reduced unfair dismissal qualifying period.
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- Date:
- 1 June 2026
- Type:
- Commentary and insights
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.
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- Date:
- 28 May 2026
- Type:
- News
Immigration law specialists have welcomed a u-turn on Home Office guidance requiring employers sponsoring migrant workers to conduct right-to-work checks on anyone they "directly engage". In the past three months there have been three updates to the Home Office guidance about whom sponsors should conduct right-to-work checks on - the latest, published on 20 May, could bring much relief to employers with licences to sponsor workers.
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- Type:
- Editor's choice
Updated to include details on the following Commentary and insights: Employment Rights Act 2025 unfair dismissal changes - insights from our webinar, Men at Work - Rethinking Mental Health, Support and Cancel Culture, Reintegration after incarceration - Challenging workplace stigma against ex-offenders, Mindful DEI - Allocating space for compassion during the age of burnout and promote our podcast on trade union reforms.
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- Type:
- Employment law guide
The Home Office will assess skilled worker and global business mobility applications to ensure jobs are genuine and meet eligible role requirements. Companies must maintain compliance throughout the sponsorship period.
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- Type:
- How to
On 20 May 2026, the Home Office amended its guidance for sponsors, reversing previous guidance it had issued on 6 March 2026, which appeared to require sponsors to check the right to work of all workers they engage, including those they do not employ directly. The new guidance confirms that checks on workers who are not direct employees are only required if they are sponsored by the employer.
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- Type:
- How to
On 20 May 2026, the Home Office amended its guidance for sponsors, reversing previous guidance it had issued on 6 March 2026, which appeared to require sponsors to check the right to work of all workers they engage, including those they do not employ directly. The new guidance confirms that checks on workers who are not direct employees are only required if they are sponsored by the employer.
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- Type:
- How to
On 20 May 2026, the Home Office amended its guidance for sponsors, reversing previous guidance it had issued on 6 March 2026, which appeared to require sponsors to check the right to work of all workers they engage, including those they do not employ directly. The new guidance confirms that checks on workers who are not direct employees are only required if they are sponsored by the employer.
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- Date:
- 15 May 2026
- Type:
- Podcasts and webinars
Employment law expert Darren Newman breaks down one of the most significant reforms contained in the Employment Rights Act 2025: the reduction in the qualifying period for protection from unfair dismissal from two years to six months. This is a change HR can't afford to ignore.