United Kingdom: Employment and HR

The Court of Appeal has issued a significant ruling on training cost repayment clauses in employment contracts, finding that overly broad provisions can be struck down as unreasonable restraints of trade. Employers who require employees to repay training costs upon departure must ensure their clauses are proportionate, fair, and genuinely protect legitimate business interests rather than simply discourage staff mobility. This judgment serves as a critical reminder to review existing contractual provisions,

The Employment Tribunals in England, Wales and Scotland have issued new Presidential Guidance on interim relief applications, responding to a dramatic surge in cases attributed to AI usage and excessive documentation. This guidance establishes stricter procedural requirements and time limits for these urgent applications, which can prevent dismissals from taking effect in whistleblowing and trade union cases.

The most significant development this quarter is arguably the Government's updated roadmap, which provides a fresh indication of when the various reforms under the Pension Schemes Act 2026 and beyond are likely to take effect.