Fire and Rehire Consultation Launched
Fire and rehire changes under the Employment Rights Act 2025 Fire and rehire continues to exist as a last-resort mechanism, but the Government has been clear for some time that its use should be constrained, with this consultation shaping how those constraints will operate in practice. When fully implemented, the Employment Rights Act […]
Home Office Audits Exposing Digital Right to Work Failures
Digital right to work checks are now a primary audit failure point While the right to work legislation and guidance have not changed since June 2025, Home Office audit teams are now applying those existing rules far more strictly in a fully digital environment. Where an online right to work check returns incomplete, […]
Employment Rights Act Timeline: Key Dates 2026–27
Date What changes Impact on employers 18 February 2026 Trade union law reforms take effect Simpler industrial action rules and stronger protections for industrial action activity 6 April 2026 SSP expansion and higher redundancy awards More employees qualify for SSP and redundancy breaches carry higher financial exposure 7 April 2026 Fair Work Agency established […]
UK ILR Debate Update: 10-Year Reforms Ahead
UK ILR Debate Update The Minister for Migration and Citizenship confirmed during the Westminster Hall debate on 2 February 2026 that the Government intends to proceed, in principle, with the earned settlement model set out in the Command Paper “A Fairer Pathway to Settlement”. The stated policy objective is to move away from […]
UK Visa Vignette Changes 2026
End of the UK Visa Vignette in 2026 From 25 February 2026, visit visa applicants who are visa nationals will receive an eVisa rather than a visa vignette. There is no physical evidence placed in the passport. The application process is simplified as a result. Applicants will attend the Visa Application Centre once to […]
UK Minimum Wage 2026: Current Rates & Employer Duties
Section A: Overview of Minimum Wage 2026 By law, employers are required to meet specific obligations in relation to workers’ pay under the National Minimum Wage provisions. 1. What is the National Minimum Wage? The UK National Minimum Wage (NMW) is the legally mandated hourly wage that employers should pay their […]
Unfair Dismissal Compensation Cap Removed from January 2027
Removal of the unfair dismissal compensation cap From 1 January 2027, tribunals will no longer be subject to a statutory ceiling when awarding compensatory unfair dismissal awards. The current limit, which caps compensation at the lower of one year’s gross pay or the statutory maximum, will no longer apply or be in force. […]
UK – China Visa-Free Travel Rules 2026
UK nationals travelling to China China has introduced a unilateral visa-free entry concession for nationals of certain countries, including the UK. UK passport holders can now enter China without applying for a visa in advance for short-term visits, subject to defined purposes and a limited permitted stay. The change sits entirely within China’s […]
Certificate of Entitlement 2026: Right of Abode for UK Entry
Section A: Role of the Certificate of Entitlement UK A Certificate of Entitlement is official evidence of the holder’s right of abode in the UK for immigration control purposes. From 26 February 2026, Certificates of Entitlement are issued as a digital record accessed through a UKVI account, and the holder’s passport details are […]
SSP 2026: Increase from 6 April
How much is SSP 2026 a week? From 6 April 2026, Statutory Sick Pay rate (SSP) increases to £123.25 per week. The £123.25 figure is the maximum weekly amount payable. SSP is calculated as the lower of 80% of the employee’s Average Weekly Earnings or the flat statutory rate. Average Weekly Earnings are […]