‘Dear CEO’: Union reps hit chief executive inboxes at 12.03am Business Union bosses flooded chief executives’ email inboxes at 12.03am, minutes after new workers’ rights rules came into effect, it has been reported. GMB representatives contacted thousands of company chiefs with a template email starting “Dear CEO” on 30 October, according to the Sunday Times. The emails reportedly informed bosses of employees’ legal rights to access [...]
Next phase of workers rights overhaul risks hammering ‘labour market’ Legal The latest phase of the government’s workers rights overhaul may have “an adverse impact on the labour market”, experts have warned, as businesses deal with the costly implications of taking on new staff. Taking effect on Friday, the next stage of the overhaul comes as part of the government’s sweeping employment reforms in its landmark [...]
Labour workers’ rights overhaul to inflict ‘negative’ hit on economy, OBR says Economics Britain’s fiscal watchdog has warned Labour’s overhaul of workers’ rights will have a “negative economic impact” as the cost to businesses will far outstrip any boost to workers’ productivity. The government’s sweeping employment reforms in its landmark Employment Rights Act (ERA) have reduced the qualifying period for unfair dismissal to six months, removed the compensation [...]
Businesses braced for wave of tribunal claims as government expands legal time limit September 30, 2026 Employers are set to face a fresh legal headache as the time limit for employees to bring claims to employment tribunals doubles, as the next phase of the reformed Employment Rights Act takes effect. From 1 October, employees will be given the legal right to take six months to bring cases to court against employers [...]
Bosses made to justify why staff shouldn’t work from home September 16, 2026 Bosses will have to host a meeting with staff who ask for flexible working and lay out their rationale for refusing, under a new policy outlined by Louise Haigh. The cabinet office minister told a union gathering that business leaders would have to “properly consider” flexibility requests from staff and grant an in-person meeting to [...]
Workers’ rights overhaul pushes Employment Tribunal to breaking point September 10, 2026 Employment Tribunal cases in England and Wales hit a record high of 70,000 from April to June this year as the new employment law reforms begin to bite. Single Employment Tribunal Receipts, which are cases brought by an individual against an employer, rose by almost 30 per cent during those three months, compared to the [...]
City leaders weigh employment policy alternatives to non-competes August 25, 2026 City businesses are expecting non-compete agreements to become less effective, looking instead to alternatives such as deferred bonus payments or share incentive plans to keep employees on board. In 2025, the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) launched a consultation to consider restrictions on non-compete clauses in employment contracts. The consultation closed for feedback in [...]
Jobs crisis: UK unemployment to hit highest level in a decade June 2, 2026 Joblessness is set to hit its highest level in more than a decade as unemployment looks set to increase by 400,000 under the Labour government, according to a top business body. The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) warns of a softening labour market, driven by falling vacancies and economic uncertainty, with unemployment projected to rise [...]
Workplace NDA ban may lead to more tribunals May 28, 2026 A government proposal to ban the use of non-disclosure agreements in cases of workplace harassment or discrimination may make it harder for disputes to be settled outside of tribunals. The proposal, ‘Make Work Pay’, which is open for consultation until 8 July and part of the recent overhaul of the Employment Rights Act, would ban [...]
Businesses brace for costs as new workers’ rights kick in April 7, 2026 Businesses across Britain are bracing for a sharp hike in costs and hiring struggles as the government’s new workers’ rights laws begin to take effect this week. The British Retail Consortium (BRC), a leading trade body, said the Employment Rights Act risks adding to an onslaught of rising cost pressures facing firms, including wage hikes [...]