Leveraging the Permitted Paid Engagement Visa
In an increasingly global talent marketplace, HR leaders must navigate complex immigration rules while maximising organisational flexibility. The UK’s Permitted Paid Engagement (PPE) Visitor Visa offers a useful — and often underutilised — route for inviting international professionals for short-term, paid work without the administrative burdens of sponsorship. This article explores the visa’s strategic benefits […]
Can UK Employers Hire Someone on a Standard Visitor Visa?
Employers seeking to engage overseas nationals often ask whether an individual holding a UK Standard Visitor Visa can be hired for work. The answer is direct and unequivocal: employers cannot employ someone on a Standard Visitor Visa. This visa does not permit employment in the UK, whether paid or unpaid. Misunderstanding or misapplying the limitations […]
UK Employment Appeal Tribunal Upholds Jurisdiction Over CNN Journalist’s Claims
Cable News International Inc v Saima Bhatti [2025] EAT 63 On 6 May 2025, the Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) upheld the decision allowing journalist Saima Mohsin (legal name: Saima Bhatti) to pursue claims of unfair dismissal, discrimination, and equal pay in the UK against CNN’s international arm, despite her employment contract being governed by US […]
Expansion of the Right to Work Scheme to Gig Economy
The government has introduced a new clause to the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill that would significantly broaden the scope of the UK’s right to work regime. Under the proposed changes, right to work checks would be required not just for employees, but also for individuals engaged through non-traditional contracts, such as so-called gig […]
Remote Work Probation: Assessment Strategies
The widespread shift toward remote and hybrid working has reshaped the modern workplace. While these flexible models offer numerous benefits — including improved work-life balance and access to a wider talent pool — they have also introduced new complexities for employers. One of the most important is how to effectively manage probation periods when employees […]
Probation and Gig Workers: UK Employer Guide
The traditional probationary period — a defined phase during which an employee’s suitability is assessed — has long been embedded in UK employment practice. However, the rise of the gig economy, with its emphasis on short-term, flexible engagements, challenges this conventional concept. For businesses engaging freelancers, contractors, or gig workers, managing initial periods of work […]
Probation, Maternity & Family Leave: A Guide
Probation periods are a valuable tool in the employment relationship, offering a defined window for employers to assess whether a new employee is a good fit for the role. But what happens when a probation period coincides with statutory family leave — such as maternity, paternity, or adoption leave? These overlapping scenarios are increasingly common […]
Extending Probation Periods: A Guide for Employers
Probation periods are a standard feature in many UK employment contracts, giving employers a defined window to assess whether a new employee is suited to the role. But what happens when an employee shows potential but hasn’t quite met expectations by the end of the initial probation period? In such cases, extending the probation period […]
Inclusive Probation for Neurodivergent Employees
The probation period is a pivotal stage in the employment lifecycle — a chance for employers to evaluate whether a new hire is suited to their role. But traditional probation processes often overlook the needs of neurodivergent employees, who may face unique barriers unrelated to their capability or potential. Neurodivergence refers to natural variations in […]
Probation and Mental Health: Employer Guide
Probation periods are a vital stage in the employment journey. For employers, they provide a structured opportunity to assess a new hire’s performance, conduct, and cultural fit. But for many employees, particularly those facing mental health challenges, probation can be a time of heightened stress, anxiety, and uncertainty. Mental health should not be an afterthought […]