United Kingdom: Employee Rights/ Labour Relations

Lucy Lewis sits down with Professor Binna Kandola, co-founder and senior partner at Pearn Kandola, to explore critical workplace dynamics and organizational psychology.

Section 152 and Schedule 12 of the Employment Rights Act 2025 (ERA 2025) will increase the primary time limit to bring most employment tribunal claims from three to six months.

U.K. employers face significant new obligations regarding sexual harassment prevention, including expanded whistleblowing protections for those reporting harassment and a heightened duty to take "all reasonable steps" to prevent harassment from both employees and third parties. These changes, taking effect between April and October 2026, require comprehensive risk assessments, updated policies, and robust training programs to avoid potential compensation uplifts of up to 25%.

You may have seen the headlines suggesting that the employment tribunal system is on the brink of collapse as the government's overhaul of worker rights starts to come into effect.

New regulations confirm the scope of sweeping changes to unfair dismissal law taking effect 1 January 2027, reducing the qualifying period from two years to six months and removing all compensation caps.

New government analysis suggests that planned employment law reforms could significantly increase the number of workplace disputes progressing through Acas early conciliation and into the employment tribunal system, adding further pressure to a structure already facing capacity pressures.

The UK Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 introduces a formal right for employees to complain directly to their employers about data privacy breaches, requiring organizations to provide complaint forms and respond within specific timeframes.

Technology and economic uncertainty are reshaping work, but access to opportunity remains uneven. Through mentoring programs spanning from professionals over 50 to young people and trauma survivors...

Listen here for the latest developments and essential practical takeaways (short enough to fit into a 10-minute coffee break!).