Practical Perspectives
Practical Perspectives is my monthly newsletter where I share the latest developments and changes to employment law, to keep you up to date. If you have any questions on any aspect of the newsletter, please do telephone me on
07786 622 622
or email me
gareth.roberts@confiderelegal.co.uk
Previous Editions
Employment Rights Act 2025: Trade Union change non-unionised employers need to have on their radar
Collective consultation: when does a “proposal to dismiss” arise?
The limits of the ‘they were going to leave anyway’ principle when analysing discrimination compensation
The new employment watchdog is here – are you ready?
Employment tribunal backlog at record levels – how employers should react
Trade union law - what HR professionals need to understand
Implied Terms: The hidden rules in employment contracts
Tribunal awards over £300,000 to employee who was not able to take full holiday entitlement for 25 years
When benefits become liabilities: PHI, dismissal and wage claims
New statutory rates for 2026
National minimum wage changes from 1st April
Religion, belief and dress codes – striking the right legal balance
Dismissing for gross misconduct: lessons from Langton v Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue
Handling suspect complaints – A practical guide for HR
When do collective redundancy consultation obligations arise? Key points for employers
Transfers and training: alternatives to dismissal – but not without risk
Neurodiversity awareness: What HR needs to know about neurodivergence at work
Employment Rights Act 2025: what changes have already taken effect?
Action short of dismissal: choosing the right lever (and keeping it lawful)
The right to be accompanied: when it applies and when it doesn’t
No harassment where employee could be shown to have participated in ‘banter’
Speaking English at work: a reasonable requirement?
Employment Rights Act 2025: Government keeps broadly to planned rollout
When collective agreements become part of an employee’s contract
Why each allegation should be considered separately in gross misconduct cases
Why the Appeal stage really matters: Lessons from Milrine v DHL
Employment Rights Act 2025 – what do employers need to be doing now to prepare for April?
Non-attendance at work due to bad weather
Enforcement: What happens when employee monitoring goes too far?
Trust liable for discrimination after allowing trans woman to use female changing rooms
Volunteers and employment status
Paternity Leave (Bereavement) Act 2024
Bereaved Partner’s Paternity Leave Regulations 2026
Unfair dismissal: tribunal wrong to reduce compensation by 100%
Employment Rights Act 2025: key trade union changes
And finally… today’s special is bin sausage rolls
Employment Rights Act 2025: The key employment law changes employers need on their radar
New rates for sick pay, family leave and national minimum wage from April 2026
Workplace Investigations
Understanding employment status in the UK
Drafting a discretionary bonus scheme: Key pointers for HR
Refusing annual leave – employer’s rights.
3rd party pressure: a fair reason for dismissal?
Wrongful Dismissal: What HR Needs to Know
Data Protection and Monitoring: What employers need to know
Government drops ‘day one’ unfair dismissal pledge
Government announces minimum wage rises for 2026
Acas Early Conciliation period extended: What HR needs to know
Court of Appeal confirms wider whistleblowing rights: what HR needs to know
A ‘timely’ reminder: investigate misconduct promptly
Why employers should actively ensure staff take time away from work
Supporting employees through Baby Loss: legal rights and practical steps for HR
How to handle retirement discussions: Simple tips for HR
Managing the legal risks surrounding performance appraisals
Employment Rights Bill enters the ‘ping pong’ phase
How to handle retirement discussions: Top tips for HR
Unpaid Overtime: Key risks for employers and how to avoid them
Employment Rights Bill: Government consults on family-friendly changes
Employment Rights Bill: Government consults on trade union changes
Reasonable adjustments and neurodivergence
Staying in Lane: HR’s role in disciplinary decision-making
Top tips for handling requests for religious time off
Age discrimination: An introduction to legal protection
Government makes changes to its proposed ‘ban’ on Fire and Rehire under the Employment Rights Bill
Where restructuring meets redundancy: Understanding the legal risks
Anonymity in the workplace
The net is tightening on NDAs: new restrictions in force from 1st October 2025
Working time and Night Work
Spotlight: the different ways in which the employment contract can come to an end
Lone working in the UK: Legal duties and key risks for HR
Lay-off and statutory guarantee pay: an employer’s guide
Employer liability for harassment: what HR need to know
United supporter working at Manchester City stadium scores ‘own goal’ with football shirt
Employment Law Roadmap for implementing the Employment Rights Bill: 2025-2027
Working time rules for Young Workers
Constructive criticism is not harassment
Covert surveillance: a last resort
Care worker wins race discrimination case after colleagues spoke Polish in meeting
Court of Appeal confirms Race Discrimination finding against Council
Harassment can occur even where the purpose of the conduct was not to harass
National Minimum Wage and night work
5 things HR need to know about probationary periods
Independent investigators not liable for whistleblowing dismissal
Avoiding compulsory redundancies: creative alternatives for HR to consider
How employers should deal with summer heatwaves
Fixed-Term Contracts: Key Issues for Employers
No need to make changes that won’t help: A reminder on Reasonable Adjustments
Redundancy: Don’t cut corners on alternative employment
Asleep on the job – but still unfairly dismissed
Think before you hire: Avoiding discrimination claims in recruitment
Volunteers in the Workplace
Tribunal awards NHS worker nearly £30,000 in compensation for Darth Vader Comparison
Remote Work Realities: Legal and operational risk
Fairness in Hybrid Work – HR’s Role in Creating Equity for All
Redundancy and Bumping: What you need to know
Bonuses and Maternity Leave: What HR Needs to Know
Tribunal should have taken a contextual approach when considering whether Claimant had done a ‘protected act’
Misconduct and disability: When dismissal can still be fair
Mistaken belief and dismissal
Health and Safety at Work: Why HR holds the keys
Supreme Court rules ‘sex’ in Equality Act 2010 means biological sex
Demoting employees: key considerations for HR
Getting back to the office: legal risks employers must watch out for
Employer successfully uses ‘All Reasonable Steps’ defence in racial harassment case
Getting to grips with DSARs: What every HR Professional needs to know
The Final Whistle: No whistleblowing protection for external job applicants
Vento bands updated
How to deal with a tactical resignation in gross misconduct cases
Overpayment of wages: what employers can do
‘Where’s everyone gone’ – the importance of communicating with absent employees And finally
New statutory rates for 2025
Court of Appeal agrees with EAT that Ofsted inspector dismissed for brushing water off a child’s head was unfairly dismissed
Changes to collective redundancy provisions as Employment Rights Bill moves to the House of Lords
Government provides clarity on the future of Statutory Sick Pay
What happens to employees when a business becomes insolvent?
Neurodivergence: legal responsibilities of employers
Redundancy and Re-Employment
BBC settles discrimination claims ‘on the steps’
‘Sir …that was my chair’ – are we at work or back in primary school?
Christian counsellor wins landmark religion or belief discrimination claim
The role of HR in disciplinary investigations
Redundancy: the basics
Handling unauthorised holiday requests: guidance for HR Professionals
Understanding workplace fraud
Employee who hid previous gross misconduct dismissal on application form was fairly dismissed
Neonatal Care Leave
Workplace relationships - 5 key considerations for HR professionals
Government may support ban on NDAs for sexual harassment allegations
Tackling employee theft – steps for employers to protect their business
Employer guilty of harassment for failing to provide private space for breastfeeding mother
10 things employers should know about notice periods and notice pay
Stricter rules for employers passing on sponsor licence costs
WhatsApp at work: More trouble than it’s worth?
Employment Rights Bill: What’s Changing?
Government announces new rates for family leave pay and statutory sick pay from 6th April 2025
Modern Slavery: Key employer obligations
Comments about an individual’s accent can be harassment
How to dismiss fairly when the working relationship breaks down
Government plans to extend ban on non-compliant employers hiring overseas workers
Government accepts Low Pay Commission’s recommendations for Minimum Wage
Employees on social media: top tips for employers
Driver using black cab app found not to be a worker
Holiday pay underpayments: Gaps over three months won’t break a series
Workplace Challenges in Winter Weather
Employment Rights Bill: a summary of the key provisions
The duty to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace becomes law
Claimant who was called a “bald c**t” by his colleague succeeds in sex-related harassment claim
Managing personal data breaches in the workplace
Bereavement leave: where are we now and where are we going?
Handling disciplinary hearings where the employee goes off sick
Government launches consultation on appropriate level of Statutory Sick Pay (SPP) for low earners
Supreme Court re-instates injunction preventing Tesco from using fire and re-hire to remove ‘permanent’ right to retained pay.
Tribunal did not have to reduce compensatory awards where it had found contributory conduct by the employees.
What does it mean for employers when an employee is ‘sick’ whilst on holiday.
What has happened to the Workers (Predictable Terms and Conditions) Act 2023?
A new case on what is / what is not a ‘protected belief’ under the Equality Act 2010.
What is on the horizon with the National Minimum Wage / National Living Wage in the eyes of the Low Pay Commission.
An Employment Tribunal erred by failing to consider if it was a reasonable adjustment to hold off dismissing disabled employee until merger was completed
A recruitment decision that was made based on who would ‘fit in’ with the team was found to be discriminatory
The King’s Speech – what’s new for employment law?
New law on allocation of tips and accompanying Code of Practice in force from 1st October 2024
6 things you should know about part-time workers
Three-month time limit for unlawful deductions claims runs from date of deduction not termination date
The ‘right to switch off’
Code of Practice on Fire and Re-hire now in force
Redeployment in sickness absence situations: key points from key cases
Equality and Human Rights Commission publish draft changes to guidance on sexual harassment
Time spent travelling from home to third-party site by minibus did not have to be paid at National Minimum Wage