The Brightmine Podcast (UK)

With the Employment Rights Bill nearing the end of its journey through Parliament, Laura Merrylees, senior legal editor at Brightmine, is joined by Nick Chronias, a partner at DAC Beachcroft, to discuss the Bill's many trade union-related changes and provide a phase-by-phase guide to how HR departments can prepare for their implementation. Read the transcript Related resources Employment Rights Bill: 10 key policies employers need to revamp On your radar: Employment Rights Bill updates and HR mythbusting Podcast: Employment Rights Bill - where we are now, what to expect next Webinar: Getting probationary periods right as Employment Rights Bill changes loom Key takeaways Phased rollout: Changes will begin two months after Royal Assent, with major reforms in April and October 2026, and final measures in 2027. Union ballots: Unions will be able to organise industrial action ballots more easily, with less information required and a reduced notice period (from 14 to 10 days). The rule requiring 50% turnout is still being debated. Union recognition: From April 2026, unions face lower hurdles for official recognition, including reduced membership and turnout thresholds. Workplace access: Starting in October 2026, unions will gain rights to access workplaces (physically and digitally), with strict timelines for employer responses and agreements. Informing staff: Employers must regularly inform employees of their right to join a union - new starters should get written statements, and existing staff receive annual reminders. Protections for union activity: Employees and union reps will be protected from penalties (other than pay deductions) for participating in official industrial action. Enforcement and consultations: Government consultations on these reforms are open until December 2025; breaches of access agreements may result in substantial fines (£75,000 per breach). Employer impact: All employers should update policies and prepare for shorter timelines, new communication duties and increased union engagement.

Does your organisation provide fair and equal leave and pay for all new parents? The Government has launched a full 18-month review of family-related leave and the Employment Rights Bill is set to introduce some changes in this area. In the meantime higher expectations among the workforce appear to be prompting organisations to take matters into their own hands and to develop ambitious new policies. In this episode of the podcast Zeba Sayed, senior legal editor at Brightmine, talks to Becs Peedell, employment lawyer at Lewis Silkin, about her organisation's equal new parent policy - and how it is seeking to encourage other firms to follow suit. Read the transcript Resources Equalised new parent leave policy How Lewis Silkin developed and rolled out its equalised new parent leave policy Statutory neonatal care leave: What HR needs to know On your radar - Employment Rights Bill updates and HR mythbusting Key Takeaways The podcast discusses UK parental leave, the newly launched Government review and law firm Lewis Silkin's equalised new parent leave policy. UK statutory leave offers 52 weeks for mothers, 1-2 weeks for fathers, and shared parental leave, but uptake is low and policies are seen as outdated. Lewis Silkin's policy gives all new parents up to 52 weeks' leave, with 26 weeks at full pay for those with a year's service. Leave can be taken flexibly. The policy has seen high uptake, including among fathers, and has cost more than expected, but is viewed as a success for workplace equality. The firm encourages other organisations to consider similar policies, emphasising stakeholder buy-in and operational planning.

Ro Carracedo Lopez, senior International legal editor at Brightmine, discusses the EU Pay Transparency Directive, how member states are adopting its provisions into national law and · not least · its implications for UK organisations with Wouter Heere, Associate at Littler Netherlands, and Rui Rego Soares, Associate lawyer at Littler Portugal. Related resources Global EU pay transparency directive implementation comparative table Demystifying the EU Pay Transparency Directive for UK employers Podcast: Gender pay gap reporting - a global view

Darren Newman joins us to unpack the complexities of the Employment Rights Bill, soon to become the Employment Rights Act. We explore the bill's sweeping scope and discuss the practical implications for UK businesses. Listeners will gain expert insight into what's coming, what remains uncertain and how HR teams can prepare for the most significant overhaul of employment law in decades. Related resources On your radar - Employment Rights Bill updates and HR mythbusting HR for HR: How to build strong relationships to deal with the Employment Rights Bill Webinar: Getting probationary periods right as Employment Rights Bill changes loom

UK employment law is evolving - are you prepared? In our latest podcast, Susie Munro, senior legal editor at Brightmine, looks at three recent tribunal cases relating to probationary periods, and discusses the upcoming introduction of a day-one right to claim unfair dismissal.  We share actionable insights, real tribunal stories and practical steps to help your organisation stay compliant and competitive. Listen now to future-proof your HR strategy! Read the transcript Related resources On your radar - Employment Rights Bill updates and HR mythbusting Webinar: Getting probationary periods right as Employment Rights Bill changes loom Probationary periods: Tribunal round-up

This episode of the Brightmine podcast features Shantha David, Head of Legal Services at UNISON, in conversation with Robert Shore and Laura Kimpton. We dive into how the Bill is reshaping UK employment law, and explore the implications for HR.  Shantha has won landmark victories in the Supreme Court that have reshaped the legal landscape. Her work champions equity, dignity and justice for workers across the public sector. Read the transcript What to read, listen to and watch next On your radar  April 2025 employment law changes: Five-point checklist for HR  Podcast: Neonatal care leave - a practical guide   Webinar: Ethnicity data disclosure - fostering trust and building engagement for a better workplace

Join us on the podcast as Jeya Thiruchelvam, Internal Communications and Engagement Lead at Brightmine, shares powerful insights on how organisations can truly harness the full potential of their people. Discover how employees can grow, thrive, and elevate their careers · all without changing employers. It's a conversation about talent, transformation, and the future of work you won't want to miss. Download the transcript Related Brightmine resources Managing retention: Creating a retention strategy Leadership development: A driver of business success Four steps HR can take to help businesses and employees embrace the new "squiggly" careers era Podcast: Rethinking recruitment and reskilling  

Cathryn Edmondson, lead consultant at Innecto Reward Consulting, joins the podcast to talk about gender pay gap reporting - its history, current challenges and the upcoming legislative changes that organisations need to know about. What to read, listen to and watch next Pay transparency - do the right thing Mind the gap: How are countries implementing the EU Pay Transparency Directive? Podcast: Gender pay gap reporting - a global view Webinar: Pay transparency - the value of honesty and some pitfalls to avoid

Ferzana Ahmed and Mith Ragukaran, solicitors at law firm Fragomen, join us to talk through the latest immigration developments and issues affecting HR professionals, including what's on the horizon. Read the transcript Related resources Transition to eVisas 2024: Key updates and action points for employers  Immigration rules and right to work On your radar 

In October 2024 the Government launched a major overhaul of employment law in the form of the Employment Rights Bill. A number of important amendments have been introduced since the proposed legislation was first published. Stephen Simpson, principal editor at Brightmine, joins the podcast to provide an update and help HR departments prepare for the changes. Download the transcript What to read, listen to and watch next On your radar  April 2025 employment law changes: Five-point checklist for HR  Podcast: Neonatal care leave - a practical guide   Webinar: Ethnicity data disclosure - fostering trust and building engagement for a better workplace 

Jo Broadbent, counsel knowledge lawyer at Hogan Lovells, joins us to discuss the new right to neonatal care leave and look at likely forthcoming changes to family-friendly employment rights in the Employment Rights Bill.  Read the transcript Related resources Webinar: Statutory neonatal care leave - how employers can prepare Neonatal care leave Neonatal care pay Neonatal care leave: Four scenarios employers could face

Susie Munro, senior legal editor at Brightmine, looks at three cases where employers have lost "discrimination arising from disability" claims after treating workers unfavourably because of disability-related absence.  Related resources Disability-related absence: Tribunal round-up On your radar Disability discrimination - line manager training

Justine Woolf, director of consulting at Innecto Reward Consulting, joins the podcast to tell us about pay transparency legislation in the US and EU and why employers in the UK need to be prepared for change - and how their organisations can benefit by taking a proactive approach. To access the white paper discussed by Justine, click here. Read the transcript What to read, listen to and watch next Pay transparency - do the right thing Demystifying the EU Pay Transparency Directive for UK employers Podcast: Gender pay gap reporting - a global view Webinar: Pay transparency - the value of honesty and some pitfalls to avoid

WhatsApp and other informal instant messaging platforms are an invaluable communication resource for individuals and groups. But as some recent legal cases have shown, they can also create problems when they are used in a work environment. Sam Dickinson, an employment lawyer and partner at Mayo Wynne Baxter solicitors, joins the podcasts to talk about the pitfalls - and what employers can do to manage risk. Related resources Sexual harassment liability: Employment tribunal round-up Compensation awards: Employment tribunal round-up Use of email, instant messaging and internet at work policy

A significant proportion of the population have criminal records. So what are the legal requirements when thinking about recruiting someone with a spent or unspent conviction? And are employers that shy away from engaging with ex-offenders failing to make use of a valuable resource and even damaging their organisations? Debbie Sadler of Unlock and Brightmine senior legal editor Laura Merrylees join the podcast to discuss these questions and more.  Related resources Job applicants with convictions Recruitment of people who have criminal record policy Six key takeaways from the 2023 CIPD conference

Psychological safety is one of the cornerstones of a productive, progressive workplace. Strategist, futurist and data scientist Wilson Wong joins the podcast to discuss how to build it, how to measure it and what can go wrong when it's lacking in an organisation. Read the transcript Related resources How to create psychological safety at work Developing employee performance: Purpose, psychological safety and belonging Materials referenced/recommended by Wilson Amy Edmondson's book The Fearless Organization The APA 2024 survey on Psychological Safety in American Workplaces A meta-analytic review examining the antecedents and outcomes of psychological safety Wilson's own blog about identity at work: Navigating Identity at the workplace and Corporate Behaviour in 2024: How did it get so bad?

Laura Kimpton, HR strategy and practice editor at Brightmine, discusses how organisations, and line managers in particular, can support and champion neurodiversity in the workplace. Topics include: employers' legal duties under the Equality Act; the value of adopting a "needs-led" approach; making reasonable adjustments; approaches to onboarding and communication. Read the transcript Related resources Neurodiversity policy Introduction to neurodiversity - line manager training Supporting neurodivergent candidates - line manager training Onboarding: Workplace orientation - line manager checklist Tailored reasonable adjustments plan for disabled employee Employment law cases concerning neurodiversity

The Labour Government published its highly anticipated Employment Rights Bill on 10 October 2024. In this edition of the podcast, Brightmine employment law experts Zeba Sayed and Stephen Simpson analyse the key proposals in the Bill and offer advice on how HR can begin to prepare for the changes. Read the transcript The accompanying slides can be downloaded here Related resources Podcast: Employment Rights Bill Q&A  Employment Rights Bill published: 10 highlights for HR from the first draft  On your radar  Webinar: Employment Rights Bill – how HR can get ahead of the changes 

The Labour Government published its highly anticipated Employment Rights Bill on 10 October 2024. In this edition of the podcast, Brightmine employment law experts Zeba Sayed and Stephen Simpson answer questions on different aspects of the Bill, from the timeline for the measures coming into effect to the nuances of the proposed unfair dismissal and fire and rehire changes. Read the transcript Related resources On your radar  Podcast: What changes should HR prepare for from the Employment Rights Bill? Employment Rights Bill published: 10 highlights for HR from the first draft  Webinar: Employment Rights Bill – how HR can get ahead of the changes 

What will the people profession look like in 2035? How will AI transform HR practices over the next decade? And how can HR teams prepare for the ethical challenges posed by emerging technologies like AI? Tessa Hilson-Greener joins the podcast to answer these questions and many more besides. Related resources AI fundamentals: How to identify AI needs in HR Three areas of focus for the AI workplace revolution Revolutionising AI rules for global employers Use of AI chatbots at work policy