Industrial Action Reforms Now Live: Practical HR Guidance
On 18 February 2026, the first phase of reforms under the Employment Rights Act 2025 took effect. The initial changes focus on industrial action and collective dispute procedure. For HR teams, the significance lies in how these amendments affect day-to-day dispute management, dismissal decisions and documentation standards. The reforms do not remove the statutory framework […]
UK ILR Earned Settlement Consultation Closes: HR Update
The Home Office consultation on the proposed earned settlement reforms closed on 12 February 2026. Around 130,000 responses were submitted. Ministers will now review those responses before publishing a formal position and laying a Statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules. Although the detailed framework is still to be finalised, what is clear at this […]
Salary Sacrifice Pensions Contributions: 2029 NIC Cap Impact
From 6 April 2029, the National Insurance treatment of salary sacrifice pension contributions will change. The cap alters the cost structure of salary exchange arrangements that many organisations have embedded into their reward strategy. HR, finance and payroll functions will need to understand the financial exposure, the system implications and the contractual risks now, not […]
How UK Visa Systems Affect Hiring
Recruitment timelines for overseas hires are now shaped as much by digital immigration systems as by offer letters and notice periods. Employers who still think of visas as a single approval step often find start dates slipping, candidates delayed at boarding or onboarding blocked by missing digital records. In 2026, hiring risk sits across the […]
Employee Experience 2026: Development, Engagement & Performance
The employee experience has become a defining factor in how organisations attract talent, drive performance and retain staff. Beyond pay and benefits, employees increasingly judge employers by how supported, developed and listened to they feel throughout their time with the organisation. This article explains the key components of the employee experience in the UK, from […]
Employee Benefits & Rewards in the UK (2026): Employer Guide
Employee benefits and reward strategies have become a core part of workforce planning for UK employers. Pay still matters, but so do wellbeing support, flexible perks, meaningful recognition and employee-centred benefits packages that help people feel valued and stay with the business. This guide explains how employers can structure employee benefit schemes, rewards and wellbeing […]
Managing Employees in the UK (2026): Rights, Policies & Retention
Managing employees in the UK involves far more than day-to-day supervision. Employers must balance legal responsibilities, clear workplace processes and long-term people management strategies while maintaining engagement and performance across the workforce. Getting this right is critical not only for compliance, but also for retention, productivity and organisational stability. This article explores how UK employers […]
Business Travel to UK: Stricter Rules from 25 February 2026
UK immigration status has always been relevant to employers, but from February 2026 it becomes a live operational risk for organisations with internationally-mobile staff. Expanded carrier checks mean immigration status is now being tested earlier and more rigidly, often before an employee even begins their journey to the UK. For employers, the consequence could be […]
Fire and Rehire Under Consultation: What HR Teams Need to Know
The Government has launched a consultation on how the new fire and rehire protections under the Employment Rights Act 2025 should apply to employment expenses, benefits and shift patterns. While the provisions are not yet in force, the fire and rehire consultation signals a significant shift in how contractual change will need to be handled […]
Digital Right to Work Failures Exposed in Home Office Audits
For HR teams, right to work compliance has entered a different phase. The move to digital immigration status has changed not only how checks are carried out, but how failures are assessed when the Home Office reviews an employer’s processes. Although the underlying rules have not changed, HR functions are now operating in an environment […]