Welcome to our Winter edition of the newsletter. As can be seen from our recent Looking ahead to 2026 there is no let-up in the pace of employment law developments. It has been an extremely busy few months, with significant developments reshaping the employment law landscape. From the reforms introduced by the Employment Rights Act 2025 – many of which begin implementation throughout 2026 – to consultations and a growing focus on workplace health and compliance, employers face rapidly evolving obligations and opportunities. Alongside these legislative changes, we have also seen developments in areas such as worker status, equal pay and non‑compete reform, all of which continue to influence day‑to‑day HR practice and strategic workforce planning.
A busy period of legislative activity sees wide‑ranging reforms under the Employment Rights Act 2025 moving forward in 2026 and further consultations are expected imminently.
Coastguard Rescue Officers are held to be “workers” rather than volunteers and the practical realities of their duties created contractual relations despite volunteer-labelled documentation.
Fresh proposals to overhaul non‑compete clauses signal a shift toward stronger labour mobility and more proportionate post‑termination restrictions.
Welcome to Reality Check, NewsGuard’s nonpartisan newsletter that tracks the false claims and conspiracy theories that shape our world — and who’s behind them. Support us by becoming a premium memb...