Skilled Worker Visa Brake for Afghan Nationals
The UK government has introduced a new immigration control mechanism that prevents Afghan nationals from obtaining Skilled Worker visas from outside the UK under the new visa brake policy. From 12:01am on 26 March 2026, Skilled Worker visa applications made outside the UK by Afghan nationals will be refused. The rule applies regardless of whether […]
Skilled Worker Visa Pay Period Changes in April 2026
The UK government has introduced new payroll compliance provisions for the Skilled Worker visa route through the 5 March 2026 Statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules. The amendment inserts paragraph SW 14.3B into Appendix Skilled Worker and takes effect on 8 April 2026. The provision changes how the Home Office examines salary compliance for […]
Employees Stuck Overseas: What Should HR Do?
The current conflict in the Middle East has left some employees temporarily unable to return to the UK as planned. Airspace closures, suspended flights and changes to cruise itineraries are disrupting international travel routes with little warning, preventing individuals from leaving affected regions. Government travel advice is also rapidly changing. Employers and HR teams now […]
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 […]
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 […]
Revised Employment Rights Act Timeline Published
The Government has confirmed a revised implementation timetable for the Employment Rights Act 2025 under its ‘Plan to Make Work Pay’. The update replaces the previous July 2025 roadmap and resets several dates that HR teams may already have built into policy reviews, training programmes and workforce planning. What has changed is the order in […]
UK Minimum Wage & Statutory Pay Changes 2026
From April 2026, changes to the UK National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage will take effect, bringing higher statutory pay floors and renewed enforcement focus. For employers, HR professionals and payroll teams, the changes will necessitate careful review of pay structures, working time calculations and payroll processes to avoid inadvertent underpayment. This guide sets […]