United Kingdom: Contract of Employment

UK right to work checks are set to change significantly from 1 October 2026. Section 48 of the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act 2025 will expand compliance obligations beyond traditional employees and could require organisations to carry out checks on a wider range of workers, contractors and labour arrangements.

Employers implementing return-to-office mandates face complex legal considerations around reasonable adjustments, discrimination, and employee rights. Understanding the legal framework and potential challenges is essential before enforcing workplace attendance policies. This analysis examines key employment law issues that arise when transitioning from remote to office-based work.

Explore critical updates in UK employment law affecting workplace rights, trade union access, and immigration compliance. These insights examine how recent legislative changes impact employer obligations, from expanded right-to-work verification requirements to new union workplace access provisions and evolving discrimination frameworks.

Flexible and remote working have transformed Scotland's employment landscape, offering benefits to both employers and employees. However, a recent tribunal case involving an employee who relocated to France without approval highlights critical legal and tax considerations that Scottish employers must navigate when staff request to work from overseas locations.

Resolution Together offers separating couples in England and Wales a constructive alternative to traditional divorce litigation by allowing them to jointly instruct one specially trained family lawyer. This one-lawyer model provides shared legal advice on finances, children and divorce arrangements, helping suitable couples resolve their separation with clarity and dignity while minimising conflict and legal costs.

As Parliament enters its summer recess, attention turns to how new Prime Minister Andy Burnham's leadership may shape the future of employment law in the UK. With many Employment Rights Act 2025 reforms still pending implementation, his track record as Greater Manchester mayor offers insights into potential policy directions. Will his commitment to 'good employment' principles signal further workplace reforms beyond the current legislative agenda?

The Employment Rights Act 2025 introduces a major shift in UK employment law by reducing the unfair dismissal qualifying period from two years to just six months, effective January 2027. This change will impact both new and existing employees, requiring employers to justify dismissal decisions much earlier in the employment relationship. Understanding how to manage probation periods, maintain proper documentation, and follow fair procedures will be critical for businesses navigating this significant reform.

Following a three-and-a-half-week trial, the High Court has ruled in favour of Mr. Gagliardi in a comprehensive 154-page judgment in Robert Gagliardi v Evolution Capital Management LLC [2025] EWHC 3214 (Comm). Mr. Justice Calver found that Mr. Gagliardi was contractually entitled to a $5.385 million discretionary bonus for his hugely profitable trading in 2021, which Evolution Capital Management LLC (“ECM”) had unlawfully failed to pay. The Court dismissed ECM’s counterclaim in its entirety.

When your employer offers voluntary redundancy through a settlement agreement, understanding the key differences from statutory redundancy becomes crucial. This comprehensive analysis examines the legal frameworks, financial implications, and strategic considerations that determine whether accepting a negotiated settlement or proceeding through formal redundancy procedures better serves your interests.