United Kingdom: Employment Litigation/ Tribunals

Healthcare providers face mounting employment tribunal risks amid workforce shortages and rising employee expectations. From inconsistent management practices to inadequate documentation, seemingly minor oversights can escalate into costly litigation that damages reputation and staff morale.

The UK employment law landscape is undergoing major transformation in 2026-2027, with sweeping changes to unfair dismissal protections, tribunal time limits, and workplace access rights. From reducing qualifying periods for dismissal claims to extending right-to-work checks and granting trade unions new access powers, employers face a complex web of compliance challenges that demand immediate attention and strategic preparation.

Major workplace reforms are set to transform UK employment law between 2026 and 2027, introducing sweeping changes to union rights, dismissal protections, and employee benefits. From electronic union ballots to extended tribunal claim periods and enhanced harassment prevention duties, employers face a comprehensive overhaul of their HR practices and policies. Understanding these changes and preparing strategic responses will be critical for organizations to maintain compliance and manage increased legal exp

A recent Employment Appeal Tribunal case examines the statutory requirements for workers to exercise their right to be accompanied at disciplinary and grievance hearings. The decision clarifies when this right arises and what obligations employers have when convening such meetings, highlighting a potential gap in worker protections.

This edition of the Need to Know employment law newsletter examines three critical developments: Acas's fully revised draft Code of Practice on Disciplinary and Grievance Procedures...

A recent Employment Tribunal decision highlights the risks for employers who pay sponsored overseas workers more than UK-based colleagues doing the same work. The case demonstrates that immigration compliance alone may not justify pay disparities, and employers must be prepared to evidence their rationale and consider less discriminatory alternatives.

The Agency Workers Regulations 2010 have fundamentally transformed temporary working arrangements in the UK. This comprehensive guide examines the specific rights granted to agency workers, from day-one entitlements to collective facilities through to equal treatment provisions that activate after 12 weeks, while clarifying the complex obligations shared between agencies and hirers.

This briefing examines three recent court cases that challenge conventional approaches to post-termination restrictions, revealing critical vulnerabilities in how employers draft non-competes, training clawback clauses, and group company protections. The analysis explores when these restrictions cross the line from legitimate business protection into unenforceable restraint of trade, with particular focus on probationary periods, indirect restrictions through repayment schemes...

The EAT has upheld a seven-figure award against an employer which did not properly conclude collective bargaining before making a direct pay offer to its workforce.