UK employment law in February 2026: Legal changes people professionals need to know
This month: Wave of Employment Rights Act 2025 consultations released and what it means for you
Drawing on policy insight and stakeholder input, the CIPD proposes a new approach to labour market enforcement
As early as 2017, the Taylor Review had identified the need to clarify and simplify employment status. And though this was stated a priority by the UK Government in 2019, little progress had been made.
Understandably, urgent attention had been focused on dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. But the precarious situation of many in low-paid work, of whatever status, as well as the risks of losing employment rights through deliberate or mistaken misclassification, mean there is a pressing need to put this back on the agenda.
Informed by a series of interviews and group discussions with HR directors, employment policy experts, employment lawyers and HR advisers, this discussion paper 'Reforming employment status: building a stronger foundation for employment rights', works through the issues associated with employment status and assesses the viable methods of simplification and reform on offer.
Download the report
This month: Wave of Employment Rights Act 2025 consultations released and what it means for you
Explore our collection of resources around legal issues relating to whistleblowing in the workplace
Get the tools and resources that help you stay compliant with the changes to collective consultation during redundancy
Legality of sanctioning workers who strike
Insights, benchmarking data and recommendations from the CIPD's latest survey on employee benefits
A manifesto for fair, skilled and innovative work, setting out CIPD’s recommendations for policy-makers to strengthen the Scottish labour market
A manifesto for fair, skilled and innovative work, setting out CIPD’s recommendations for policy-makers to strengthen the Welsh labour market
Based on an assessment of FTSE 100 annual reports and focus groups with investors and HR leaders, this report gives benchmarking data, insights and practical recommendations for improving workforce reporting practices