United Kingdom: Employment Litigation/ Tribunals

Acas has published a draft Code of Practice that would fundamentally reshape how UK employers handle workplace disputes, placing informal resolution at the heart of disciplinary and grievance procedures. The proposed changes introduce new expectations around early intervention, proportionate investigations, and conflict resolution skills that could significantly impact how tribunals assess employer compliance.

Employers are increasingly encountering AI-generated or AI-enhanced employee grievances that are longer, more detailed, and more sophisticated than traditional complaints. This emerging trend presents unique challenges for HR departments and legal teams, from managing extensive documentation to navigating confidentiality risks when both employees and employers use AI tools. How should organizations respond when faced with these technology-enhanced workplace disputes?

The Agency Workers Regulations 2010 have fundamentally transformed temporary working arrangements in the UK. This comprehensive guide examines the specific rights granted to agency workers, from day-one entitlements to collective facilities through to equal treatment provisions that activate after 12 weeks, while clarifying the complex obligations shared between agencies and hirers.

From 30 October 2026, employers managing lawful industrial action will face a broader risk of claims if workers are subjected to detriment for taking part. Care will be needed when taking steps that affect those workers.

Natalie Abbott, Partner at Rothera Bray, shares her unconventional journey from a rural Norfolk upbringing through language studies in France and Germany, a stint as a ski rep in the Alps, to becoming a successful Employment Law specialist. Discover what drives her passion for ensuring workplace safety and respect, and how her diverse background shaped her approach to law.

Employment Tribunal claims have surged by 23% in the past year, creating unprecedented backlogs with some cases now scheduled for hearings in 2028. What factors are driving this dramatic increase in workplace disputes, and how can employers navigate an increasingly complex employment law landscape while minimizing their litigation risk?

Any business operating with employees in the UK will likely be aware of the many changes that have been introduced, and are still to be introduced, under the Employment Rights Act 2025.

When key employees with access to proprietary technology and trade secrets depart for competitors, employers face significant risks of confidential information misappropriation. The recent case of Vertical Aerospace Group Ltd v Ngoma demonstrates how imaging orders can preserve critical evidence from devices and cloud accounts, while also revealing the careful balance courts strike between protecting legitimate business interests and respecting employee rights during the disclosure process.

A recent employment tribunal awarded nearly £30,000 to a sponsored care worker who was left without work for almost a year, resulting in the employer's sponsor licence being revoked.