As workforce demographics continue to evolve, employers may increasingly find themselves grappling with a question the criminal justice system has already started to confront:

June marks National Age Without Apology Month, a UK-wide campaign encouraging people to embrace ageing and challenge the stereotypes that often accompany it. hrinnercircle.co.uk/national-age...

The Supreme Court’s decision in For Women Scotland Ltd v Scottish Ministers continues to have significant implications for employers, with updated government guidance now confirming changes to the way gender pay gap reporting should be approached. hrinnercircle.co.uk/updated-gend...

In a labour market focused on wellbeing and inclusion, fostering policies may soon become another important benchmark of a genuinely family-friendly workplace. hrinnercircle.co.uk/fostering-an...

The right to request flexible working is a day-one right for all employees in the UK. Crucially, however, it is only a right to request flexible working, not a right to have the request granted. hrinnercircle.co.uk/flexible-wor...

For employers, the practical message is straightforward. Once litigation or discrimination complaints arise, every subsequent interaction with the former employee should be approached carefully and objectively. hrinnercircle.co.uk/post-employm...

For HR professionals, ‘protected conversations’ under section 111A of the Employment Rights Act 1996 (ERA 1996) remain a valuable, but often misunderstood, tool. hrinnercircle.co.uk/the-art-of-p...

Permanent health insurance (PHI) is the employment benefit which breaks the rules. It can outlive employment, restrict an employer’s ability to dismiss, and expose businesses to liabilities lasting decades. hrinnercircle.co.uk/permanent-he...

From 6th April 2026, the right to Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) changed in ways that most employees will celebrate and most employers will not. hrinnercircle.co.uk/day-one-ssp-...

Although the burden might be shifting on ‘all reasonable steps’ (at least insofar as third party harassment is concerned), employers are still going to need to approach the concept in the same way.

As we reflect on last week’s awareness day, the key takeaway is this: the Equality Act 2010 does not simply require employers to respond to discrimination. It requires them to anticipate, prevent, and, if at all possible, eliminate it. hrinnercircle.co.uk/from-awarene...

Managing underperformance is rarely straightforward and requires a balanced approach that combines clear expectations, early intervention, and a fair, well-documented process. hrinnercircle.co.uk/managing-und...

In a climate of growing public debate, HR’s role is therefore not to police diagnosis. It is to ensure that workplaces remain fair, lawful and responsive to the people within them. hrinnercircle.co.uk/neurodiverge...

Employers need to take the time to consider carefully, whenever redundancies (or large scale ‘no-fault’ dismissals) are in the offing, whether their proposals trigger collective consultation obligations.

Small, thoughtful steps can help employers demonstrate cultural competence, reduce legal risk, and strengthen employee trust during Ramadan. hrinnercircle.co.uk/ramadan-cons...

Dismissal decisions are rarely judged in isolation. Tribunals look at the whole journey – and the appeal is often the final, critical chapter.

What rights do employers have where there has been an overpayment of wages? In this article, we look at how overpayments of wages are treated under UK law. hrinnercircle.co.uk/overpayment-...

For HR, the challenge is to balance that emotional impact with the legal and commercial realities - ensuring generosity doesn’t come at the cost of control.

With everything going on with the ERA at the moment, you'd be forgiven for missing the latest updates on paternity leave, which have gone rather under the radar.

The smart workplace requires smarter governance. HR must remain at the centre of surveillance decisions, working closely with IT and legal teams to balance innovation with employee privacy. hrinnercircle.co.uk/the-technolo...

For HR professionals, this case is less about sausage rolls and more about sticking to fundamentals – and not losing sight of them when the facts grab the headlines. hrinnercircle.co.uk/were-serving...

After months of parliamentary back-and-forth, the Employment Rights Bill has finally cleared the House of Lords and has today (18th December 2025) received Royal Assent. hrinnercircle.co.uk/employment-r...

Lando Norris’ championship season shows what becomes possible when authenticity and fairness coexist: people perform better, teams grow stronger, and organisations achieve results they might otherwise consider out of reach. hrinnercircle.co.uk/authenticity...

For workplaces National Grief Awareness Week is an opportunity to pause, learn, and create environments where grief is understood rather than avoided. hrinnercircle.co.uk/growing-with...

Pregnancy gives employees a distinct legal status in the workplace, and employers need to recognise and respond to this responsibly. Time off should be granted, risks properly assessed and managed, and their priority considered in any redundancy process. hrinnercircle.co.uk/dealing-with...

Whistleblowing can be challenging. To help cut through the noise, here’s a practical overview of the two key whistleblowing claims in UK law - and what recent decisions mean for your organisation. hrinnercircle.co.uk/a-whistlesto...

‘Supportive’ shouldn’t mean conflict-avoidant. And ‘responsible’ doesn’t mean uncaring. As Sir Charlie Mayfield says “Life is full of setbacks - it is just life and happens to us all and we have a responsibility to work through them”. hrinnercircle.co.uk/the-hr-conun...

By balancing safety, fairness, and legal compliance, HR professionals can manage drugs and alcohol issues with confidence – while ensuring dignity and support for those affected. hrinnercircle.co.uk/drugs-and-al...

With the right adjustments and inclusive culture, employers can unlock the potential of neurodivergent individuals and avoid the legal risks of getting it wrong. hrinnercircle.co.uk/supporting-e...

The reputational impact of ‘naming and shaming’, and the financial impact of a finding of non-compliance, should not be underestimated. Against this backdrop, here is a ‘back to basics’ guide to NMW: hrinnercircle.co.uk/governments-...

This last week (9th-15th October) marked Baby Loss Awareness Week in the UK. The theme for this year was ‘Together, we care’ with a focus on finding time to care for each other, as part of a community of people affected by all forms of pregnancy and baby loss. hrinnercircle.co.uk/together-we-...

What happens if someone is treated differently at work because of the way they speak – specifically, their accent? hrinnercircle.co.uk/accent-discr...

Probationary periods remain a practical tool for managing early performance and conduct, but HR must use them carefully – and be ready to adapt once the new rules arrive. www.linkedin.com/pulse/top-ti...

Where the employment relationship has run its course, dismissals for SOSR are a lawful and practical option. As always, a fair process, good records, and respectful dialogue are your best protection. hrinnercircle.co.uk/when-working...

Harassment isn’t always obvious - it can happen quietly, in passing, or even with a laugh. HR’s role is to make sure workplace culture doesn’t let it slip through unnoticed. hrinnercircle.co.uk/banter-and-b...

Lone working, including homeworking, can give rise to risks which HR need to be aware of and, through continuous risk assessment, manage. HR Inner Circle members have access to various lone worker resources, including a template policy and risk assessment, in the members’ Vault.

As if TUPE isn't complicated enough, what about when the transfer crosses borders? Perhaps a service that previously operated in-house has become the responsibility of a business operating outside of the UK.

The recent Court of Appeal decision in HMRC v Taylor’s Services Limited considered the position in relation to travel time, where the employer was paying workers £2.50 per hour for time spent travelling from their homes to their place of work on a company minibus.

The recent kiss-cam moment raises some key questions for HR. Can employers discipline employees for behaviour outside work? And when should personal privacy give way to reputational risk?

Gregg Wallace has been banned from working at the BBC after reports of inappropriate behaviour and sexual harassment. Let's delve into some recent cases and look at how you should handle situations where disability and misconduct come together. hrinnercircle.co.uk/when-disabil...

As has been widely reported, a flurry of government-backed amendments to the Employment Rights Bill were published overnight. We've summarised the main changes below. hrinnercircle.co.uk/amendments-t...

Pride Month is a celebration – but it’s also a call to action. 🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️

From an employer’s perspective, encouraging cycling to work can demonstrates a clear business focus on sustainability. Cycling is also shown to have strong wellbeing benefits.

This week is Volunteers’ Week in the UK, an annual campaign to celebrate and recognise the contributions of volunteers.

What should you do when an employee, whilst conceding that they've committed an act of misconduct, alleges that it was caused by a disability? Here are our top tips on how best to handle the process and make it fair for all parties. hrinnercircle.co.uk/disability-a...

Getting notice periods and pay right isn’t just a contractual formality, it’s a key part of risk management in HR. From PILON clauses to sickness absence and fixed-term contracts, the details matter.

This week is Mental Health Awareness Week in the UK. Whilst this is an opportunity for employers to pause and think about how they can support their employees’ wellbeing at work, it's also important to acknowledge that we should be prioritising mental health not just this week, but all the time.

When an employee is on maternity leave, their contract of employment continues and they remain entitled to most of their usual benefits.

What are the common pitfalls in redundancy consultations and how can you avoid them? hrinnercircle.co.uk/redundancy-d...