UK Employment News

Personnel Today about 7 hours ago

Career clarity opens doors at Radisson, says HR chief

Hospitality is a popular first rung on the careers ladder. But how does a global hotel brand like Radisson manage career progression and engagement? The post Career clarity opens doors at Radisson, says HR chief appeared first on Personnel Today .

Personnel Today about 7 hours ago

Male teacher denied flexible working wins sexism claim

Male teacher at private school, sacked after asking for flexible hours to drop off his children, wins claim for sex discrimination. The post Male teacher denied flexible working wins sexism claim appeared first on Personnel Today .

BBC News about 9 hours ago

Ryanair may freeze workers' pay as fuel prices spike

The airline says fuel prices may rise by €2bn in 2028 unless there is an end to the US-Israel war with Iran.

Personnel Today about 11 hours ago

Ryanair ponders wage freeze as fuel costs rise

Ryanair is considering a temporary wage freeze for staff as it deals with a sharp rise in fuel costs. The post Ryanair ponders wage freeze as fuel costs rise appeared first on Personnel Today .

Roxanne Slevin: Mandatory Payrolling of Benefits – is your organisation ready?

Mandatory Payrolling of Benefits in Kind (BiKs) will have implications for those working in the pay professions.

Virgin Media O2 could cut up to 4,000 jobs in major restructuring

Thousands of telecoms staff face uncertainty as debt pressures and competition prompt plans for major workforce reductions.

Treasury minister claims employers are not ‘working people’ in Budget tax row

Emma Reynolds' distinction between employers and employees draws criticism as small businesses face mounting employment costs.

Employment Rights Act likely to damage growth, OBR warns as recruiters urge rethink

Recruitment industry warns that employment reforms, higher taxes and rising labour costs could undermine hiring and economic growth.

The hidden productivity cost of ignoring employees’ health needs

Employers can reduce sickness absence and improve staff performance by tailoring healthcare benefits to changing personal circumstances.

Personnel Today about 17 hours ago

EHRC updates sexual harassment and harassment guidance

The Equality and Human Rights Commission has updated its technical guidance following the changes to harassment legislation that came into force on 30 October. The post EHRC updates sexual harassment and harassment guidance appeared first on Personnel Today .

BBC News about 18 hours ago

Don't get caught out by new Buy Now Pay Later rules

New affordability checks mean you could be blocked from using Buy Now Pay Later but here are ways to avoid it.

Thousands of jobs at Virgin Media O2 to be cut

The broadband provider has not finalised the number of roles to be axed but it will likely be a sizeable chunk of its workforce, the BBC understands.

BBC News 1 day ago

Video: What to do when a trade union access request arrives

Follow these simple steps when a trade union requests access to your workplace, and watch our expert discussion. The post Video: What to do when a trade union access request arrives appeared first on Personnel Today .

Pay & rightsHiring & jobs

Unions gain right to access workplaces to recruit and organise workers

Unions now have the right to enter workplaces to speak to workers. They can represent, recruit and organise workers and to facilitate collective bargaining. The post Unions gain right to access workplaces to recruit and organise workers appeared first on Personnel Today .

US benchmarks heighten exec pay inequality in Europe

CEO pay has become too complex to deliver lasting value, conclude business school academics. The post US benchmarks heighten exec pay inequality in Europe appeared first on Personnel Today .

Nine in 10 organisations see surge in AI-assisted grievances

Nearly 90% of organisations have reported a rise in AI-assisted complaints, while almost all lack formal employee guidance, research found. The post Nine in 10 organisations see surge in AI-assisted grievances appeared first on Personnel Today .

Government ‘ready to support’ staff facing Poundland collapse

Prime minister Andy Burnham has said the government is ‘ready to support’ affected employees at Poundland as it faces collapse. The post Government ‘ready to support’ staff facing Poundland collapse appeared first on Personnel Today .

DEI teams must do more to deal with antisemitism – report

Inclusion policies are not doing enough to protect against antisemitism at work, according to research from Pearn Kandola. The post DEI teams must do more to deal with antisemitism – report appeared first on Personnel Today .

Dockers around Europe on strike over arms shipments

Dockworkers at more than 100 ports have been on strike today as they protest against the use of civilian ports to move military cargo to war zones. The post Dockers around Europe on strike over arms shipments appeared first on Personnel Today .

3,000 coastguards win union representation for pay and conditions

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) has signed a deal with union GMB following months of negotiations. The post 3,000 coastguards win union representation for pay and conditions appeared first on Personnel Today .

Stronger harassment protections come into force

Stronger requirements on employers to prevent sexual harassment come into effect today (30 October). The post Stronger harassment protections come into force appeared first on Personnel Today .

HR and finance data don’t match: the headcount problem in every merger

Finance says one headcount. HR says another. Archie Veerabahu of HiBob on mismatched people data, which HR leaders named as their number one issue in HiBob's research, and why it slows every merger and restructure.

HR Review 3 days ago

Worker excused from using AI on basis of Humanist beliefs

A research administrator in the USA has successfully obtained workplace accommodations excusing him from using AI in his job. The post Worker excused from using AI on basis of Humanist beliefs appeared first on Personnel Today .

New laws

Employment law changes in October 2026

A number of employment law changes are due to take place in October. Here’s a summary and what to expect. The post Employment law changes in October 2026 appeared first on Personnel Today .

Yorkshire Water boss resigns after firm downgraded

Nicola Shaw, who has led the company since 2022, will step down in January, it is announced.

BBC News 3 days ago

Pay & rightsWorkplace culture

Who should pay on the first date?

Yasmin Rufo asks New Yorkers who picks up the bill on a first date, and how much they usually spend.

BBC News 3 days ago

Employers could be forced to reveal colleagues’ salaries under equal pay proposals

Equality watchdog calls for mandatory salary disclosures, recruitment restrictions and stronger enforcement to tackle workplace pay discrimination.

HR Review 3 days ago

Most employers have faced legal action stemming from a workplace dispute

More than 9 in 10 employers have dealt with at least one workplace dispute in the past two years, according to a report. The post Most employers have faced legal action stemming from a workplace dispute appeared first on Personnel Today .

Employment Rights Act 2025: updated timeline

Updated timeline for Employment Rights Act 2025 to include new duty to keep holiday records, published 26 March 2026 and regularly updated The post Employment Rights Act 2025: updated timeline appeared first on Personnel Today .

Praise and frustration: employment specialists respond to the Budget

Business experts give their appraisals on various measures that may have escaped the headlines. The post Praise and frustration: employment specialists respond to the Budget appeared first on Personnel Today .

Burnham 'ready to support' Poundland staff as retailer faces collapse

Poundland's bosses are filing a notice of intention to appoint administrators to the business.

BBC News 4 days ago

Minimum wage rise 'a massive blow' says farmer

Tristan Bennett voices his disappointment in the Budget, describing it as "a lot of tinkering".

BBC News 4 days ago

Minimum wage increase accepted by minister

A recommendation to increase the minimum wage by 2.8% is agreed by Senator Elaine Millar.

BBC News 4 days ago

CIPD on the Budget: ‘too much is being done to employers rather than with them’

CIPD chief Neil Carberry: ‘Employers will be pleased that there were no big, unwelcome surprises in the Budget.’ The post CIPD on the Budget: ‘too much is being done to employers rather than with them’ appeared first on Personnel Today .

Workplace cultureHiring & jobs

OBR warns about impact of US war on Iran on employment

The Office for Budget Responsibility has warned unemployment will exceed 5% next year. The post OBR warns about impact of US war on Iran on employment appeared first on Personnel Today .

LPC advised bigger rise in youth minimum wage too risky

Low Pay Commission advised government ahead of the Budget that equalising youth minimum wage with living wage was too risky. The post LPC advised bigger rise in youth minimum wage too risky appeared first on Personnel Today .

Budget 2026: What should the misogyny fund do for workplaces?

Debbie Bayntun-Lees outlines how the £15 million misogyny prevention fund, announced in the 2026 Budget, should be spent in the workplace. The post Budget 2026: What should the misogyny fund do for workplaces? appeared first on Personnel Today .

Organisational change: 76% of leaders faced more than one major change

Change is no longer a one-off. In a HiBob survey of 1,700 HR, IT and finance leaders, 76% had faced more than one major organisational change. Archie Veerabahu of HiBob also cites Deloitte data putting the average employee at 10 planned changes a year: roughly one every six weeks.

HR Review 4 days ago

New laws

John Healey: benefits bill to be reduced but with no ‘crude cuts’

The Milburn review of young people and work and the Timms review of the disability benefit system to be the trigger for new government plans. The post John Healey: benefits bill to be reduced but with no ‘crude cuts’ appeared first on Personnel Today .

Pay & rightsHiring & jobs

Budget 2026 brings wage rises and skills funding but employers warn of mounting costs

Employers welcome support for wages and skills but warn that rising costs and employment regulations could damage business confidence.

HR Review 4 days ago

Equality watchdog calls for ban on salary history questions in job interviews

Britain's equality regulator calls for tougher recruitment rules to ensure job applicants are paid according to their skills and experience rather than previous earnings.

HR Review 4 days ago

Hiring & jobs

Microsoft profits surge days after announcing major job cuts

The week, the Windows developer said it would offer buyouts to 60,000 workers as it looks to curb costs.

What we now know about the UK economy in four charts

The Office for Budget Responsibility says higher energy prices will impact everything from prices and living standards to economic growth.

Five ways the Budget will affect you if you are under 25

The chancellor announced a series of measures which will impact under-25 year-olds from housing to minimum wage.

Hiring & jobs

Budget 2026 fails to ‘hit the bullseye’ on hiring confidence

Today’s Autumn Budget failed to do enough to stimulate job creation in a challenging market, according to HR and recruitment professionals. The post Budget 2026 fails to ‘hit the bullseye’ on hiring confidence appeared first on Personnel Today .

The one thing that didn't change that will affect your pay the most

The point at which you start to pay tax, and the point where you tip into paying a higher rate of tax have been frozen for three more years.

How much is the minimum wage going up by?

What are the National Minimum Wage and the National Living Wage, and how much are they worth?

Budget 2026: No ‘breathing space’ on employment taxes

John Healey has announced a ‘budget for the working people of Britain’ in his first Autumn Budget as chancellor. The post Budget 2026: No ‘breathing space’ on employment taxes appeared first on Personnel Today .

National living wage to increase by 3.9%

John Healey confirms the national living wage (NLW) will increase to £13.21, a 3.9% increase for around 2.3 million people from April 2027. The post National living wage to increase by 3.9% appeared first on Personnel Today .

Your pay, energy bills and savings: How the Budget affects you

Changes announced by Chancellor John Healey in his first Budget will affect your finances directly. Here's how.

You may get the right to find out what your colleagues earn - here's why

Employees should legally be able to find out what their co-workers are earning, the UK's equality watchdog says

The Full Picture of Parental Leave: Why Policy is Only Part of the Picture

Discover why leading employers are focusing on employee experience, return-to-work support and outcomes in the Bright Horizons Parental Leave Benchmark 2026. The post The Full Picture of Parental Leave: Why Policy is Only Part of the Picture appeared first on Personnel Today .

Pay & rightsHiring & jobs

Pay transparency: why an above-range hire becomes a risk later

That hire you paid above the range to land quickly? Under pay transparency, it becomes much harder to explain. Sara Hill of RoleMapper on why fast pay decisions need revisiting before transparency rules bring them into the open.

High inflation drags down global wage growth – survey

Salary growth around the world slowed to 0.6% in 2026, according to global mobility firm ECA. The post High inflation drags down global wage growth – survey appeared first on Personnel Today .

Deborah Garlick: Making sense of Menopause Action Plans

Menopause in the workplace is facing greater scrutiny than ever with the introduction of Menopause Action Plans under the 2025 Employment Rights Act.

Minimum wage set to rise to £13.20 but younger workers face smaller increase

Younger employees could see slower pay growth from next April as ministers balance rising wages against concerns about employment opportunities.

Parental pay extended to 150,000 more workers, including self-employed fathers

Self-employed fathers, partners and adopters will gain access to financial support under plans to widen family entitlements.

I get £4,062 a year and am trying my best to get a job - here's what I want from the Budget

People on a range of incomes from £4,062 to £150,000 a year tell the BBC what they want to see in this year's Budget.

BBC News 6 days ago