Employing Contractors UK: Legal Guide 2026
Employing contractors can offer businesses flexibility, specialist expertise and short-term scalability. However, in UK law, the decision to hire an independent contractor rather than an employee carries significant legal and financial consequences. Employment status determines statutory rights, tax liabilities, PAYE obligations and potential exposure to employment tribunal claims. Misclassifying a contractor can result in backdated […]
Collective Consultation Rules UK (2026 Guide)
Collective consultation is one of the most heavily regulated areas of UK employment law. Where an employer proposes to dismiss 20 or more employees as redundant within a 90-day period at one establishment, the law imposes strict procedural obligations. These obligations arise under section 188 of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 […]
Section 3C Immigration Act 1971: 2026 Guide
Section 3C Immigration Act 1971 is one of the most important but misunderstood provisions in UK immigration law. It operates automatically to continue a person’s existing leave where they have made a valid, in-time application to extend or vary their permission, and that application has not yet been decided before their current leave expires. Without […]
UK Share Code: What It Is & How to Check 2026
Section A: What is a Share Code? A share code is a unique, government-issued alphanumeric code that gives controlled access to a person’s current immigration status held on the Home Office system. It sits at the centre of the UK’s shift to a digital immigration system, allowing third parties such as employers, landlords […]
Upward Bullying at Work: UK Employer Guide 2026
Bullying at work is usually discussed as something that flows down a hierarchy, for example where a manager misuses authority or where colleagues mistreat each other. In practice, organisations are also seeing cases where employees target people in authority, undermining or intimidating them in ways that are sustained, corrosive and difficult to tackle. This is […]
Bringing the Company into Disrepute UK (2026 Guide)
Bringing the company into disrepute is a commonly cited disciplinary allegation in UK workplaces. It appears frequently in employment contracts, staff handbooks and codes of conduct, yet it is not defined in statute. Despite that, it can form the basis of lawful disciplinary action, including dismissal, where the legal test for misconduct is met. In […]
ICE Regulations UK (2026): Employer Compliance Guide
The ICE regulations, formally known as the Information and Consultation of Employees Regulations 2004, form part of the UK’s statutory framework governing employee consultation. They establish a legal mechanism through which employees in larger undertakings can require their employer to put formal information and consultation arrangements in place, as part of wider UK employment law […]
Trade Union Act 1992: Employer Guide 2026
The “Trade Union Act 1992” is a common shorthand for the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 (TULRCA). For employers, TULRCA sits alongside wider UK employment law compliance duties and day-to-day HR law decision-making, shaping how collective issues are recognised, negotiated and escalated. While the statute is often discussed in the context of […]
Positive Action vs Positive Discrimination: Rules & Risks in 2026
Employers are under a legal duty not to unlawfully discriminate against prospective or existing employees because of a protected characteristic. However, that is not to say employers cannot take ‘positive action’ to assist certain groups of people that are potentially at a disadvantage or under-represented within their workforce. Positive action is a limited exception under […]
UK Immigration Act 1988: Overview & Role in 2026
The Immigration Act 1988 is a short but highly technical piece of primary legislation that amended the Immigration Act 1971 and related nationality provisions, with the aim of making further provision for the regulation of immigration into the United Kingdom. It was enacted on 10 May 1988 and is primarily relevant as a set of […]