Employment Law newsletter – Winter 2026
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.
Articles
Employment Rights Act 2025 implementation for 2026
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.
Court of Appeal finds that “volunteer” Coastguard Officers are workers
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.
Non-compete clauses in employment contracts under review
Fresh proposals to overhaul non‑compete clauses signal a shift toward stronger labour mobility and more proportionate post‑termination restrictions.
Equal pay in focus: managing legal risks and ensuring compliance
Landmark equal pay settlements exceeding £1 billion prompt the GMB Union to announce 10,000 new claims for 2026, underscoring the need for employers to review pay practices.
Important UK immigration changes 2026
The Government is continuing to implement the proposed reforms outlined in its White Paper published in May 2025 to reduce net migration and strengthen border controls.
How to protect your business against the new failure to prevent fraud corporate offence
Large organisations now face liability for failing to prevent fraud if they do not have reasonable fraud‑prevention procedures in place.
The Mayfield Review: can better workplace health bridge the UK’s Employment Gap?
The Mayfield Review calls for a shift toward preventive workplace health, including fit‑note reform and initiatives to tackle rising ill‑health‑related economic inactivity.
Team news
We are pleased to announce that Employment Partner Rajiv Joshi has been appointed Co‑Chair of the TAG Alliances Employment and Labour Law Specialty Group, part of TAG’s global network of over 160 firms in more than 90 countries. As Co‑Chair, Rajiv will help shape the Group’s work by organising events and sessions at TAG conferences, fostering global knowledge‑sharing and best practice so that clients benefit from cutting‑edge insight and international expertise.
Webinar
Thank you to those who attended Blake Morgan’s recent Employment webinar – Managing settlements: the legal and practical issues, and the pitfalls to avoid.
If you were unable to attend, please click here to view the recording. Please feel free to share this with any of your colleagues who might find this content useful.
I hope you will find all the articles above informative and helpful, and if you would like any further information, please do not hesitate to get in touch with your usual Blake Morgan contact.
Our Employment Rights Act 2025 Hub on our website can be accessed here.
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