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All topics A-Z

Factsheets

Regularly-updated factsheets provide overviews and information on a topic

Four Factsheets about Employment law
Factsheet
Employment law: key differences between Northern Ireland and Great Britain
An overview of the main differences in employment law between Northern Ireland and Great Britain (made up of England, Scotland and Wales)
Factsheet
Employment law in the UK: the court system
Guidance on the role of the UK civil courts in hearing employment cases
Factsheet
Employment law: UK, EU and Brexit
Find out how the EU has influenced UK employment law and how this will apply in the future following Brexit
Factsheet
Employment law in the UK: how it is made
For CIPD members, we explain how employment law is made in the UK Houses of Parliament, from the Bill stage through to Royal Assent.

Guides

Designed for practitioners, our guides provide recommendations and advice on how to apply good practice in the workplace.

13 Guides about Employment law
Guide
Fire and rehire: Guide for employers
What this practice is, why you should avoid it, and how to approach it if no other options are available
Guide
Atypical working: Guidance for employers
Practical guidance to help you identify and implement good atypical working practices
For Members
Guide
People manager guide: Family leave
Advice for managers on how they can help to manage maternity, paternity, adoption, shared parental, parental leave and parental bereavement leave
For Members
Guide
People manager guide: Redundancy
Advice for managers when a member of staff on their team faces redundancy
For Members
Guide
Fixed-term contracts: Guide for employers
Understand what employers need to do to manage fixed-term contracts within the law
For Members
Guide
Self-employed contractors: Understanding the law
Understand what employers need to do to manage self-employed contractors within the law
Guide
Zero-hours contracts: Understanding the law
Understand what employers need to do to manage zero-hours contracts within the law
For Members
Guide
IR35 implications for in-house HR practitioners
Understand the ramifications of IR35 changes for in-house HR, and the five initial steps you can take to help your employer understand them.
For Members
Guide
IR35 implications for consultants
Whether you use the services of a consultant or are a consultant yourself, you’ll need to understand the ramifications of IR35 – and what you can do about them
For Members
Guide
People manager guide: Employment status
Explanation of the different kinds of employment status so managers can correctly manage people within their teams according to their different contractual terms
For Members
Guide
Disciplinary and grievance procedures: Guidance for managers
Advice on how the disciplinary process is used to deal with misconduct or poor performance and how to best handle a grievance from a member of staff
For Members
Guide
People manager guide: Dismissal
Information for managers on what happens when the decision is made to dismiss a member of their team and how to avoid mistakes
For Members
Guide
Agency workers: Understanding the law
Understand what employers need to do to manage agency workers within the law 

Employment law

Practical resources to help you address employment law issues at work, and keep up with recent and pending legislation.

33 Employment law about Employment law
Employment law
Timetable of employment law changes in the UK
For Members
Employment law
Tracking potential changes under the Plan to Make Work Pay
Find out what may change and how you can prepare
For Members
Employment law
Bullying and harassment: UK employment law
Explore our collection of resources around bullying and harassment in the workplace
For Members
Employment law
Sickness absence management: UK employment law
Explore our collection of resources around legal issues surrounding absence, including Q&As
For Members
Employment law
AI and technology in the workplace: UK employment law
Guidance on the legal considerations on the use of technology and AI in UK workplaces
For Members
Employment law
Recruitment: UK employment law
Explore our collection of resources and Q&As covering the recruitment process, from pre-employment checks and case law, to employing overseas workers
For Members
Employment law
Pregnancy and maternity discrimination: UK employment law
Explore the legal issues relating to pregnancy and maternity discrimination in the workplace
For Members
Employment law
Marriage and civil partnership discrimination: UK employment law
Explore the legal issues relating to marriage and civil partnership discrimination in the workplace
For Members
Employment law
Religion and belief discrimination: UK employment law
Explore our collection of resources around legal issues relating to religion and belief discrimination in the workplace, including philosophical beliefs
For Members
Employment law
Sex discrimination: UK employment law
Explore our collection of resources around legal issues relating to sex discrimination in the workplace, including pregnancy and maternity discrimination
For Members
Employment law
Dismissal: UK employment law
Explore our collection of resources on fair and unfair dismissal, including the branches of unfair dismissal such as constructive dismissal, and laws around wrongful dismissal. This resource includes common questions and answers plus relevant case law
For Members
Employment law
TUPE: UK employment law
What you need to know about TUPE transfers; including how the UK court see breaches of these notoriously complex regulations.
For Members
Employment law
Maternity, paternity, shared parental and adoption leave and pay: UK employment law
Explore our collection of resources around maternity and parental rights, including Q&As on shared parental leave and adoption law and relevant case law
For Members
Employment law
Whistleblowing: UK employment law
Explore our collection of resources around legal issues relating to whistleblowing in the workplace
For Members
Employment law
UK employment law changes post-Brexit – the ‘retained EU law bill’ explained
The 'Retained EU law bill', or REUL, changes UK employment law.
For Members
Employment law
Annual leave: UK employment law
The CIPD's dedicated legal resource on holiday entitlement for all types of worker. This page includes guidance on applying the working time directive and how the UK court system sees legal claims against employers on annual leave matters.
For Members
Employment law
Working time: UK employment law
CIPD guidance on the legality of working hours in the UK. Workable hours and breaks are directed by the UK's Working Time Regulations, formally part of the EU Working Time Directive. Here we explore key legislation and how the courts see claims against employers.
For Members
Employment law
Flexible and hybrid working: UK employment law
Explore our collection of resources around legal issues relating to flexible and hybrid working, including the changes to the right to request flexible working
For Members
Employment law
UK statutory rates and compensation limits
A round up of the year's statutory rates, including compensation limits, family friendly payments, statutory sick pay, minimum wage, disclosure and barring fees and National Insurance contribution
For Members
Employment law
Stress and wellbeing: UK employment law
CIPD's resource on employers' legal obligations to reduce work-related stress and increase employee wellbeing. This resource includes legislation and case law, demonstrating how this issue is seen in the courts.
For Members
Employment law
Equal pay: UK employment law
In the UK, the Equality Act 2010 creates a legal obligation for equal pay for men and women, performing equal work. This resource explains how employers can ensure equal pay, as well as looking at case law in the area.
For Members
Employment law
Disability discrimination: UK employment law
CIPD legal page on disability discrimination in the workplace. This resource explores legislation and case law in this field to demonstrate how disability discrimination claims are seen in the courts.
For Members
Employment law
Sexual orientation discrimination: UK employment law
Explore our collection of resources around the legal issues relating to sexual orientation discrimination in the workplace including Q&As and relevant case law
For Members
Employment law
Age discrimination: UK employment law
Explore our collection of resources around legal issues relating to age discrimination in the workplace including Q&As and relevant case law
For Members
Employment law
Race discrimination: UK employment law
Explore our collection of resources around legal issues surrounding race discrimination, including Q&As and relevant case law
For Members
Employment law
Discipline and grievance procedures: UK employment law
Explore our collection of resources on disciplinary and grievance procedures, conflict resolution and the Acas Code of Practice
For Members
Employment law
Employment status: UK employment law
Explore our collection of resources around legal issues surrounding employees and workers, including Q&As for various types of workers and relevant case law
For Members
Employment law
Data protection, surveillance and privacy at work: UK employment law
Explore our collection of resources surrounding the legal issues relating to data protection, surveillance and privacy in the workplace
For Members
Employment law
Terms and conditions of employment: UK employment law
Explore our collection of resources covering terms and conditions of employment, including Q&As and relevant case law
For Members
Employment law
Trade union recognition and industrial action
Legality of sanctioning workers who strike
For Members
Employment law
Health and safety: UK employment law
Explore our collection of resources around legal issues surrounding health and safety at work, including employers' obligations
For Members
Employment law
Tribunal claims: UK employment law
Explore our collection of resources around legal issues involved in an employment tribunal claim, including Q&As and relevant case law
For Members
Employment law
Redundancy: UK employment law
Explore our collection of resources on redundancy, including managing and planning for redundancies, commonly asked Q&As and relevant case law
For Members

Reports

Research and analysis by experts from CIPD and partner organisations

Nine Reports about Employment law
Report
Migrant workers and skills shortages in the UK
This report looks at the role of immigration in the context of the post-Brexit skills challenges
Report
Zero-hours contracts: evolution and current status
An evaluation of the use and impact of zero-hours contracts
Report
What should an effective sick pay system look like?
Recommendations for ensuring a financial safety net for workers during illness
Report
Employers’ legal guide to post-Brexit immigration
Practical guidance on navigating the UK’s new points-based system for HR and employers
Report
Reforming employment status and strengthening rights
Drawing on policy insight and stakeholder input, the CIPD proposes a new approach to labour market enforcement
Report
Revamping labour market enforcement in the UK
Drawing on policy insight and stakeholder input, the CIPD proposes a new approach to labour market enforcement
Report
Employment regulation in the UK: burden or benefit?
Read our report examining employer views and experiences of implementing UK and EU employment law
Report
Employer/employee views of zero-hours contracts
Survey evidence on how and why employers use zero-hours and short-hours contracts, and employees' characteristics, attitudes and preferences when it comes to these types of contract
Report
Zero-hours contracts: myth and reality
Research findings and recommendations to improve practice in the use of zero-hours contracts

Thought leadership

Insight and foresight from our experts in people and the world of work

13 Thought leadership about Employment law
Thought leadership
UK employment law round-up: August 2024
Monthly round-up of changes in employment law in the UK
Thought leadership
UK employment law round-up: July 2024
Monthly round-up of changes in employment law in the UK
Thought leadership
UK employment law round-up: June 2024
Monthly round-up of changes in employment law in the UK
Thought leadership
UK party manifestos: Skills and employment agenda
The CIPD examines the main UK-wide party manifestos and outlines key implications for skills and employment
Thought leadership
New employment legislation to come into effect on 6 April 2024
We outline the key pieces of legislation set to come into force in the UK and explain their implications for employers and employees
Thought leadership
Stormont is back - but what should it focus on?
What are the priorities for Northern Ireland as its devolved government makes a full return after two years?
Thought leadership
What does the new flexible working legislation herald for UK workers?
Carl Quilliam discusses what the passing of the Employment Relations (Flexible Working) Act 2023 means, what changes it brings and when they might be implemented
Thought leadership
Now is the time to extend statutory bereavement leave and pay
Claire McCartney and Lucy Herd, Jack's mother and prominent campaigner for Jack's Law, discuss the importance of extending statutory bereavement leave and pay for employees experiencing the loss of a close family member and ask what employers can do to best support them
Thought leadership
Home and hybrid working: current employment law essentials for people professionals
What do HR practitioners need to know and do regarding contractual issues and health and safety law?
Thought leadership
IR35: It's back
Charles Cotton’s article considers the implications of IR35, including the steps employers can take to prepare for the changes and how HR can help enforce it
Thought leadership
Time to strengthen UK labour market enforcement
Rachel Suff reflects on CIPD's new report, Revamping labour market enforcement in the UK, and considers the case for reform of the UK enforcement system
Thought leadership
No ‘good work’ without good enforcement
Rachel Suff and Duncan Brown from the Institute for Employment Studies look at the latest government consultation on establishing a single enforcement body for employment rights
Thought leadership
Workers’ choice key to genuine ‘two way’ flexibility
The CIPD conducted a survey for the Government's latest consultation on the introduction of a right for all workers to have reasonable notice and compensation, which highlighted a number of issues. Ben Willmott discusses

Policy engagements

Our calls for action.

Two Policy engagements about Employment law
Policy engagement
Calling for a more progressive and supportive approach to enforcing employment rights
Read our letter to the UK’s Director of Labour Market Enforcement as part of the call for evidence for the Labour Market Enforcement Strategy 2024 to 2025
Policy engagement
Good work plan: establishing a new single enforcement body for employment rights
Read the CIPD's submission to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Learning

We offer a range of evidence-based courses tauilored to suit you and your needs.
Our Essential Insights courses are free as part of the CIPD membership.

Fundamentals of Employment Law

Gain the fundamentals of employment law so you can confidently handle common employment issues that arise on a day-to-day basis.

Employment Law Practitioner F2F

Discover how to resolve workplace legal issues that arise during the employment journey through a legal and compliant lens.

Employment Law Practitioner - Online class

Resolve employment law and workplace related issues with a confident, legal and wholly compliant approach.

Employment Law for Line Managers (England and Wales) Essential Insights

This course will provide you with a high-level overview of UK employment law. Explore the breadth of employment law and how it influences work in the UK, particularly in relation to people management.

Employment Law update

Stay abreast with the latest employment law changes update to deepen your knowledge and maintain organisational compliance. This engaging workshop will provide you with valuable practical insights and will cover England and Wales employment law and will have references to the law in Scotland.

Employment
law advice

Want more employment law advice? Members can phone the CIPD legal helpline or take out a discounted subscription to HR-inform for additional resources.

Employment law helpline HR-inform
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