UK Recruitment Process: Risks & Employer Duties 2026
Recruitment is an important activity for employers, directly impacting the quality and performance of their workforce. It is, however, also a source of increasing legal risk. Employers must ensure their recruitment processes are fair and do not discriminate. They also have to carry out pre-employment checks on individuals they employ and comply with data protection […]
Gig Workers UK: Employer Legal Risks & Compliance 2026
The fast-growing gig economy is changing how UK organisations source labour and specialist expertise. For employers, “gig working” can feel like a commercially efficient model: flexible resourcing, fewer fixed costs and faster access to skills. The legal position is more complicated. In UK law, the label “gig worker” has no fixed meaning. What matters is […]
Managing Poor Performance at Work 2026 (UK Guide)
Managing poor performance is not simply a question of output. It is a legal and procedural issue that sits squarely within UK employment law. How an employer handles capability concerns can determine whether a later dismissal is fair or unlawful, and whether the business is exposed to discrimination or whistleblowing-related claims. Managing poor performance requires […]
Sackable Offences List UK: Legal Guide 2026
When employers search for a “sackable offences list”, they are usually looking for clarity on what behaviour justifies instant dismissal. In UK employment law, there is no statutory list of sackable offences. Instead, the concept is rooted in gross misconduct, summary dismissal, and the statutory framework governing fair dismissal under the Employment Rights Act 1996. […]
Menstruation Leave UK 2026: Legal Risks & Policy
Menstruation leave is increasingly discussed in UK workplaces as employers consider how best to support staff experiencing severe menstrual symptoms. While some international jurisdictions have introduced specific statutory rights to menstrual leave, the legal position in the United Kingdom remains different. There is no standalone entitlement to menstruation leave under UK employment law. Instead, employers […]
Interviewer Bias in Recruitment: UK Law Guide 2026
Interviewer bias is one of the most persistent and underestimated risks in UK recruitment. While most hiring managers believe they assess candidates objectively, bias in interviews can influence decisions in subtle but legally significant ways. When interviewer bias affects who is shortlisted, how candidates are questioned, or who is ultimately offered a role, it may […]
Disability Discrimination UK: Employer Guide 2026
Disability discrimination remains one of the most litigated and high-risk areas of UK employment law. Claims are complex, compensation is uncapped and procedural mistakes are heavily scrutinised by Employment Tribunals. For employers, compliance requires more than avoiding overt unfair treatment. It demands structured decision-making, lawful absence management, careful performance handling and a proactive approach to […]
What is Discrimination by Perception UK: 2026 Guide
Perceptive discrimination is one of the least understood areas of UK equality law, yet it carries the same legal weight and financial risk as any other form of direct discrimination. Under the Equality Act 2010, an employer can be liable for unlawful discrimination even where the individual concerned does not actually possess the protected characteristic […]
Term Time Working UK: Employer Guide 2026
Term time working is a form of flexible working where an employee works during school or academic terms and does not work during school holidays. Although most commonly associated with education and local authority roles, term time working is increasingly being adopted across private sector organisations where operational demand aligns with school calendars or where […]
Good Work Plan UK: Employer Guide (2026)
The UK Good Work Plan was the Government’s policy response to the 2017 Taylor Review of Modern Working Practices. It was presented as a blueprint for fair and decent work in a modern labour market shaped by flexible contracts, platform work and evolving employment models. While the phrase “Good Work Plan” is often used loosely […]