Consultation launched on workplace monitoring technologies
09/07/2026The government has launched a consultation on the use of workplace monitoring technologies in an effort to improve clarity, transparency and worker voice, supporting good industrial relations. Ministers are seeking views from businesses, trade unions, and the public on how…
World Cup: Starmer hints at bank holiday if England win
09/07/2026Sir Keir Starmer is considering an additional bank holiday if England were to win the FIFA World Cup. The prime minister, who is widely expected to stand down on 20 July, said he “didn’t want to jinx it, but ask…
Employers urged to keep humans in charge of risk verification
08/07/2026Employers are increasingly turning to artificial intelligence to verify risk information, but HR and business leaders are being warned not to rely on the technology alone as misinformation and deepfakes create new risks for employees. Research from International SOS found…
US labor market continues to be ‘low hire, low fire’
08/07/2026Current trends indicate slower job growth ahead as an increasing number of consumers say they’re having trouble finding jobs. Source: www.hrdive.com
Sacked manager awarded £21k over handling of abusive customer
08/07/2026A car dealership in Paignton unfairly and wrongfully dismissed an aftersales manager following a dispute with an aggressive customer who had harassed and abused his team members. In a case that highlights employers’ risks around third-party harassment, the employment tribunal…
Bank holidays: six things employers need to know
08/07/2026Are employees entitled to extra pay for working on bank holidays? What does an employer do if an employee refuses to work on a bank holiday? How should bank holidays be managed for part-time employees? We explain how to deal…
Work-related fatalities fall to all-time low – HSE
08/07/2026A total of 126 workers were killed in work-related incidents in Great Britain in the past year, the lowest number on record, according to the latest annual fatality statistics from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). The figure, for 2025/26,…
Coastguards threaten exit in reaction to new contract proposals
08/07/2026Coastguard officers could be set to leave the service in droves after new plans to reclassify their volunteer status following a landmark tribunal decision in January. The Court of Appeal ruling confirmed that coastguard rescue officers (CROs) across the UK…
Global employment at record highs, says OECD
08/07/2026Labour markets in OECD countries remain resilient, with total employment at an all-time high and projected to continue to grow this year and next. However, real wages remain below their levels five years ago in around one-third of OECD countries,…
Can visa fee refunds really unlock growth for UK employers?
08/07/2026The government recently announced plans to reimburse visa costs for fast-growing companies in a bid to supercharge the start-up economy. But how impactful will this measure really be, asks Victoria Welsh? The government’s proposal to reimburse visa costs for certain…