New Year Business Guide - brought to you by APL Media • Wednesday 14 January 2026 Employee rights: are you ready?


The Employment Rights Bill is set to bring in the most signifi cant changes to the UK’s employment law landscape for many years


The proposed reforms are set to be phased in during 2026 and 2027 and include: • Unfair dismissal protection after six months (reduced from two years)


• Expansion of fl exible working and family-friendly rights


• Enhanced regime of measures to tackle workplace harassment


• Restrictions on using so- called ‘fi re and rehire’ to vary employment terms


• Changes to rules relating to large- scale redundancies


• More protection for employees on zero hours contracts and agency workers. Many businesses are asking what


these changes mean in practice — and how best to prepare. Kilgannon & Partners LLP (K&P)


is here to help you navigate these changes with confi dence. K&P specialises in advising large


employers and SMEs on strategic employment issues. It supports businesses across all sectors on complex matters including resolving sensitive workplace disputes, recruiting or exiting senior staff and restructuring.


K&P’s solicitors are employment


law experts. But the fi rm off ers much more than that. It prides itself on:


1. DEEP EXPERIENCE: Most of the team have at least 15 years’ experience practising exclusively in employment law. The team brings advisory and leadership experience from established City and regional law fi rms.


2. COMMERCIALITY: K&P’s value lies in the legal and commercial judgement its lawyers can off er. They will explain your options in any given situation but, importantly, will always tell you what they think you should do (and why).


Want to fi nd out more about the


Employment Rights Bill at one of our events? Scan the QR code for further information


HR & Recruitment • 25 ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE


3. RELATIONSHIPS: K&P invests time in getting to know your business, your priorities and the markets in which you operate. This approach has enabled it to nurture long-term relationships with many clients.


4. SENSIBLE PRICING: As a modern law fi rm with effi cient internal systems and no artifi cial targets for its lawyers, K&P can off er highly competitive fees and fl exible pricing models that work for you.


EMILY KIDD, PARTNER


K&P ADVISES ON: • Resolving employment disputes


• Contracts and bonus arrangements • Exit arrangements for senior staff • Disciplinary, capability and grievance issues


• Discrimination / Harassment • Whistleblowing • Restructuring and TUPE • Workplace investigations


DOMINIC HOLMES, PARTNER For further information


Dominic Holmes, Partner E: dh@kilgannonlaw.co.uk


Emily Kidd, Partner E: ek@kilgannonlaw.co.uk Visit: kilgannonlaw.co.uk


ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE HR’s wake-up call


Transform employee relations now or face regulatory chaos


Economic pressure and sweeping regulatory change — specifi cally the new Employment Rights Bill — are creating unprecedented pressure for UK businesses and HR teams. The latest research from Empowering People Group (EPG) reveals a stark reality: many large enterprise HR leaders signifi cantly underestimate the true impact of these changes and lack a clear strategy to cope. The traditional HR operating model simply isn’t fi t for the future. To thrive, or even survive, HR


needs a new operating model that delivers effi ciency, compliance and confi dence at scale. That model is Employee Relations


as a Service (ERaaS). ERaaS is a business-critical


shift that transforms HR from reactive fi re-fi ghting to a strategic, data-driven function that drives


To thrive, or even survive, HR needs a new operating model that delivers effi ciency, compliance and confi dence at scale


business performance, effi ciency and protects reputation. By embracing ERaaS,


organisations can transition to a data-driven, proactive approach to HR strategy. ERaaS ensures compliance and directly links employee relations to tangible ROI, through improved sickness absence rates, reduced employment tribunal risks and enhanced employee experiences. ERaaS shifts everyday employee


relations issues away from internal HR teams, enabling line managers to take a proactive, empowered approach to people management. ERaaS is built on three distinct and high-impact components:


1. TECH-EMPOWERED MANAGERS & HR:


Empower® , the fl agship case


management technology from AdviserPlus, an EPG company, enables a data-driven approach for HR leaders and allows managers to self-serve people matters in a risk-managed way. This innovative approach builds manager capability - with more than 90% of ER matters typically being manager-led - improves employee experiences, and ensures consistency and compliance, all whilst freeing up internal HR teams to focus on strategic priorities.


2. UNBIASED, ALWAYS-ON ADVICE: Outsourced employee relations advice from EPG’s ER transformation experts, AdviserPlus, ensures managers get expert advice early, nipping issues in the bud, which reduces time, cost and the likelihood of costly claims later on, whilst driving performance.


3. LEGALLY PRIVILEGED SAFEGUARDS:


Sweeping employment law changes means legally privileged advice from EPG’s employment law experts, Halborns, gives leaders an extra layer of protection – conversations can be had without the threat of repetition at employment tribunal. This enables faster, commercial, more confi dent decisions without fear of future


challenge. Turning compliance into a genuine competitive advantage. ERaaS makes employee relations a


strategic, value-driven function. Don’t wait for the next wave of


regulation to land — start preparing now to reduce risk and build a competitive advantage.


For further information


Visit: empoweringpeoplegroup. com/businessguide


Download a copy of the Employment Rights Bill Research fi ndings, which reveals the risk and readiness for the ERB.


Request a free ER risk assessment to benchmark your current readiness.


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