Employment Rights Act 2025 – Changes You Need To Make To Contracts and Policies Before 1 July 2026.
The reduction in the qualifying period for employees to bring an unfair dismissal claim, from two-years to 6 months, is a significant relaxation of the current threshold. This change will apply to dismissals from 1 January 2027. Importantly, this means it will apply to employees who start work with your business from 1 July 2026, […]
What the Government’s “Plan to Make Work Pay” Means for Workers and Employers
No employer will have missed that the Government has now started rolling out its Plan to Make Work Pay, a major package of reforms aimed at bringing employment rights legislation firmly into the 21st century. The aim is to extend the kinds of protections already offered by leading UK employers to millions more workers across […]
Employment Rights Act 2025 – incoming!
The Employment Rights Bill was passed on 16 December 2025 after an extended period of parliamentary “ping‑pong” and received Royal Assent on 18 December 2025. Early changes that are expected to take effect soon include reforms to Statutory Sick Pay, trade union and industrial action rules, and the introduction of day‑one rights to paternity leave and unpaid parental leave, whilst other […]
Government Scales Back Day-One Unfair Dismissal Rights: What Employers and Employees Need to Know
The UK Government has announced a significant change to its Employment Rights Bill, taking a step back from its original pledge to give workers protection against unfair dismissal from their first day in a job. Alternatively, this right will now apply after six months of continuous employment. Existing day-one protections against discrimination and automatically unfair reasons for dismissal remain unchanged. […]
Employment Rights Bill: Latest Developments After Commons Debate
On the 15th of September, the Employment Rights Bill returned to the House of Commons following its passage through the House of Lords earlier this month. MPs spent several hours debating the Lords’ proposed amendments before rejecting the majority of them, ensuring that the Bill’s key reforms remain largely unchanged. This stage of the legislative […]
It Is More Than Rude To Tell A Colleague To “Shut Up!”
Language in a workplace is more important than ever, as a case where a colleague was told to “shut up” contributed to a successful claim for constructive unfair dismissal. Case Overview: Glasgow Employment Tribunal Ruling In June 2025, the Glasgow Employment Tribunal ruled that David Ashe, the former Director of Operations, was justified in his claim for constructive […]
Navigating International Divorce: Essential Guide for Scottish Residents
Divorce is rarely a straightforward process, but when international elements come into play, it can become significantly more complex. If you find yourself facing an international divorce from Scotland, understanding the intricacies involved is crucial for navigating the challenges ahead. What is an International Divorce? International divorce occurs when one or both spouses are living […]
From Awareness to Action: Managing Neurodiversity in the Workplace
As awareness and acceptance of neurodiversity have grown, the number of diagnoses has also increased. This growing openness is a positive development, but it also brings new challenges for workplaces. Employers are still learning how to respond, particularly with self-diagnosis on the rise and with the pressures on the NHS preventing medical diagnosis being readily […]
Supreme Court Ruling on the Definition of Women Under the Equality Act 2010: Key Insights and Implications
For Women Scotland v The Scottish Ministers [2025] UKSC 16 The Supreme Court has recently clarified that under the Equality Act 2010 (‘EqA 2010’) the protected characteristics of sex and gender reassignment are legally distinct and should be interpreted independently of one another, each offering separate and specific forms of protection. The Supreme Court […]
New Neonatal Care Leave for Parents: What You Need to Know
A new right to leave for parents where babies are receiving neonatal care is due to come into force on 6th April 2025. The Neonatal Care (Leave and Pay) Act 2023 created this right but the government is now passing regulations to bring it into effect. Key Highlights of Neonatal Care Leave Eligibility: The right […]