United Kingdom: Employee Rights/ Labour Relations

Sally and David discuss the Next EAT equal pay appeal decision and what you need to be doing now to prepare for the extension of Employment Tribunal time limits from 1 October 2026. This episode provides essential practical takeaways for in-house employment lawyers navigating these critical developments.

Starting October 2026, UK employers face heightened obligations to prevent workplace harassment, including a new duty to protect employees from third-party harassment by clients, customers, and contractors. The Employment Rights Act 2025 raises the standard from "reasonable steps" to "all reasonable steps," while simultaneously doubling the time limit for Employment Tribunal claims from three to six months. Companies must implement comprehensive risk assessments, training programs, and documented policies t

From October 2026, UK engineering firms face unprecedented liability for right-to-work compliance across their entire subcontracting chains. The new extended liability rules mean businesses can be penalized if anyone working on their projects—including substitutes and workers several layers down the supply chain—lacks proper work authorization.