Changes to Employment Law: October 2026 – January 2027

Key changes all employers need to be aware of!

In this episode 269 of the podcast, I bring you a summary of the key changes taking place with employment law from the 30th October 2026 to January 2027.

These are key changes that present a high risk to employers if you do not take action now.

In this episode, we cover:

• The introduction of a new liability for third party harassment of your employees
• The strengthening of the requirement for employers to take all reasonable steps to prevent sexual harasssment
• The widening of access to workplaces for Trade Unions
• The new processes for employers to follow with Trade Union access requests
• The introduction of stronger rights and protections for seafarers
• The reduction in the qualifying service for an employee to claim unfair dismissal
• The requirement to notify all workers of their right to join a trade union
• Why it is important to take action

Key takeaways:

Actions to take now:

1. Assess the risk of third party harassment of your workers
2. Take action to mitigate those risks identified
3. Review and improve upon your sexual harassment prevention measures
4. Train managers
5. Review your probation periods and process for probation procedures
6. Ensure key personnel understand the new rules for Trade Union recognition and workplace access

Links to other shows & resources you may find helpful

Third Party Harassment DIY Toolkit – coming soon!

Third Party Harassment Podcast

Sexual Harassment Prevention Podcast

Sexual Harassment DIY Toolkit

Managing Probation Periods Podcast

If you would like a no obligation quote or call to discuss please do not hesitate to contact us on 01983 897003 or by email to alison@realemploymentlawadvice.co.uk

Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast to stay informed on the latest in UK employment law. If you have questions or need tailored advice, feel free to get in touch – we are here to help.

Training for your Team

Would you like to arrange training for your team to reduce the risk of both unhappy employees and claims being made against you? Please get in touch for a no obligation discussion, we can offer training anywhere in the UK in person or delivered remotely via MS Teams.

Please drop me an email alison@realemploymentlawadvice.co.uk

Fixed Price Advice from Real Experts

As part of our HR Harbour annual subscription service for employers we provide guidance and training for employers, supervisors and managers. If you would like to know more about the HR Harbour Service and how you can get unlimited support from as little as £234 per month please contact me for a no obligation discussion – alison@realemploymentlawadvice.co.uk or you can find full details here: HR Harbour

Don’t forget you can contact us by telephone 01983 897003, 01722 653001, 020 3470 0007, 0191 375 9694 or 023 8098 2006

We have a variety of free documents and letters which are available to download here: DIY Documents

We are also on YouTube! You can find a range of topics and also listen to this podcast on YouTube here: YOUTUBE

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The information contained in this Podcast and post is provided for guidance and is a snapshot of the law at the time. It is provided for your information only and should not be used as a substitute for obtaining legal advice that it specific to your particular circumstances.

The guidance should not be relied upon in any decision making process. It is strongly recommended that you seek advice before taking action.