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...

Data Subject Access Requests are a time consuming minefield. Here are our top tips for handling them efficiently:

Stress Awareness Month provides a vital opportunity to shine a spotlight on one of the most pervasive workplace issues - stress.

The Supreme Court today handed down its highly anticipated judgment in For Women Scotland v The Scottish Ministers. The Court ruled that a trans woman with a full gender recognition certificate does not fall within the definition of a ‘woman’ under the Equality Act 2010.

Sullivan v Isle of Wight Council shows that there are limits to who will be afforded protection from whistleblowing detriment. External job applicants (outside of the NHS) are not protected. hrinnercircle.co.uk/the-final-wh...

In Campbell v Sheffield Teaching North Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Hammond, the EAT looked at the ‘all reasonable steps’ defence. A finding of fact was made by the tribunal that a comment capable of amounting to racist abuse had been made by Mr Hammond.

April Fool’s Day is the one day of the year when practical jokes and playful teasing are almost expected in the workplace. As today reminds us, humour is an integral part of work culture.

In the recent case of Hewston v Ofsted the Court of Appeal took a closer look at what ‘reasonable’ should look like in the context of a dismissal for gross misconduct.

Are you on top of all the new statutory rates of pay coming into effect from 6th April? We’ve compiled a handy table outlining the key changes you need to be aware of, including family leave pay rates, SSP, and limits on other statutory payments. hrinnercircle.co.uk/statutory-ra...

Once approved by Parliament, the following new rates will apply from 6th April 2025: - the cap on a week’s pay for statutory redundancy pay: £719 - the limit on compensatory awards for unfair dismissal: £118,223 - statutory guarantee pay: £39 per day

What are the legal obligations owed by employers to neurodivergent employees? And what practical steps can HR take to meet them?

Does your holiday year run from April to March? If so, are you at risk of breaching the Working Time Regulations this holiday year? Full-time employees are entitled to a statutory minimum holiday entitlement of at least 28 days.

International Women’s Day (IWD) 2025 is celebrated this Saturday, 8th March. This year the theme is ‘Accelerate Action’ chosen, according to IWD’s website, ‘because it emphasises the urgency of making faster, more effective strides toward gender equality.’

Earlier this week the Government published its responses to its consultations on various aspects of the Employment Rights Bill.

No Legal Right to Disconnect: Government U-Turn on Work-Life Balance Plan Reports suggest ministers are set to scrap plans for a legal right to ‘switch off’ outside work hours. Read more on our blog: hrinnercircle.co.uk/no-legal-rig...

As with most technological advancements of the modern age, resistance is futile. From HR’s perspective, this starts with the creation and promotion of a clear Generative AI Usage Policy, we look at the ten things your policy should include. hrinnercircle.co.uk/ai-in-the-wo...

The recent controversy surrounding Labour MP Andrew Gwynne serves as a stark reminder of the blurred lines between personal and professional conduct in the digital age.

Following yesterday's judgment in Higgs v Farmor's School, we now have a ‘gloss’ on direct discrimination – specifically for religion or belief.