Non-compete litigation is climbing sharply, with High Court claims issued by employers against former staff up 43 per cent this year, according to a new report. A rise in business creation (up 3.5% year on year) and a slowdown for permanent hiring sending professionals into self-employment are cited as two possible reasons for this rise. Commenting to People Management, Constantine Law partner, Alan Lewis , warns that October 2026 will mark a major turning point: the use of

The Employment Rights Bill should receive Royal Assent this month.  On 28 October 2025, the House of Lords considered the House of Commons’ amendments to the Employment Rights Bill.  The Lords proposed changes to: 1.       zero-hours clauses (amending their own amendment); 2.       the day-one right to unfair dismissal protections (insisting on a 6-month qualifying period, rather than day-one); and 3.       industrial action ballot thresholds (disagreeing with the proposal t

The criticism of HR, levied by the Sunday Times as a bloated, obstructive force in UK business, overlooks a deeper truth: HR has grown...

In the latest episode in our podcast series, our new business immigration team, Alex Finch and Rebecca Tester introduce themselves before going on to discuss recent major changes to the UK’s immigration system. The UK government’s recent white paper on immigration sets out reforms designed to reduce net migration, shift focus towards domestic workforce development, and recalibrate the balance between attracting global talent and controlling settlement. Among the most signif

The number of people employed in HR has grown in recent years, with HR roles now outnumbering doctors and lawyers in the UK, prompting...

The government announced major changes to the immigration rules, which came into effect on 22 July. One of the most controversial changes...

In August I wrote a blog about the use of AI in HR.  My personal enthusiasm for AI remains unbounded however irrespective of my own...

Constantine Law partner, Alex Finch , writing in The Engineer, paints a fairly bleak picture for employers looking to sponsor workers in...

A nationwide immigration enforcement operation targeting illegal working in food delivery sector saw a number of arrests last month, as...