
Reform UK, led by Nigel Farage and fronted by former Home Secretary Suella Braverman, announced it would repeal the Equality Act on its first day in office. The party also pledged to dissolve the equalities department, scrap the equalities minister, and push a merit‑based agenda that favours personal responsibility over protected‑characteristics. Braverman set a target that 50% of young people should enter trades rather than pursue university degrees. Critics, including the TUC, warned the move would strip away decades of anti‑discrimination safeguards and embolden exploitative employment practices.

Youth unemployment in the UK surged to 16.1% in the October‑December 2025 quarter, the highest level since 2014 and now above the EU average of 14.9%. Overall unemployment rose to 5.2%, a five‑year peak, while pay‑rolled jobs slipped by 6,000,...

More than 200 Transport for Greater Manchester staff ended strike action after accepting a multi‑year pay deal backed by Unite and Unison. The agreement delivers a minimum 3.2% increase, back‑dated to April 2025, and raises the lowest hourly rate to...

CIPD’s Labour Market Outlook warns that the Employment Rights Act 2025 will curb permanent hiring, with 37% of UK employers planning to reduce such recruitment. Overall hiring intentions are at their lowest level since the pandemic, while 74% foresee higher...

Shepherds Friendly surveyed 1,500 workers and found that younger employees are the least likely to have income protection and have the lowest awareness of policy coverage. Six in ten respondents don’t realize the policy can cover mental health, and 69%...

The Employment Rights Act 2025 imposes a stricter duty on UK employers to take "all reasonable steps" to prevent sexual harassment, extending liability to harassment by third parties. The Act also reclassifies sexual‑harassment disclosures as protected whistleblowing, demanding trusted, retaliation‑free reporting...

PwC says AI cannot replace human subjectivity in decision‑making, so it will keep entry‑level graduate roles to develop judgment. The firm will use AI only for low‑value, routine tasks while senior staff focus on nuanced analysis. PwC received 60,000 applications...

The UK government announced a 3.3% pay rise for roughly 1.5 million NHS nurses, midwives and allied health staff in England and Wales, effective 2026‑27. The increase outpaces the Office for Budget Responsibility's 2.2% inflation forecast but falls short of the...

Organizations are moving beyond compulsory return‑to‑office mandates, using curated in‑person experiences to reinforce culture and drive performance. FourthWall’s white paper shows that leadership‑led events, purpose‑aligned activations, and thoughtfully designed workspaces boost engagement, productivity, and talent attraction. The research also flags...

Resident doctors in Scotland have overwhelmingly approved a revised pay offer, with 97.1% voting in favour and a 62.4% turnout, averting planned strike action. The British Medical Association secured a deal that provides a 4.25% pay rise for 2025‑26 and...

The UK Employment Rights Act 2025 introduces day‑one statutory sick pay and removes the lower earnings limit, reshaping payroll compliance. Employers must adjust payroll systems within the first 12 months to accommodate immediate SSP payments and altered eligibility for part‑time...

Women and equalities minister Bridget Phillipson told a meeting with nurse Jennifer Melle and health minister Karin Smyth that the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s revised code of practice applies only to services, associations and public functions, not to workplace...