Lawcast

In this podcast our experts Kate Galloway, Joanna Pennick and Joanne Bell discuss the Employment Rights Act 2025 changes to the law on harassment that are due to take effect on 30 October 2026.

Their discussion explores:

• The strengthening of the duty on employers to prevent sexual harassment, from a duty to take "reasonable steps" to a duty to take "all reasonable steps", and what "all reasonable steps" might mean in practice

• The new requirement for employers to prevent third party harassment of their employees - with employers only having a defence if they have taken all reasonable steps to prevent such harassment

• What guidance is currently available and what practical steps employers can and should take now to prepare for these changes in the law

In this podcast our experts Alex Lock, Jane Marshall and Ceri Fuller discuss the fire and rehire measures in the Employment Rights Act 2025 which are set to come into force on 1 January 2027.

Alex, Jane and Ceri explore:

- The impact of the new legislation on exercises to change terms and conditions

- What the 2025 legislation says

- How the new law applies to reorganisations and ending fixed term contracts

- Practical steps to take to prepare ahead of January 2027

In this podcast, experts Richard Loxley, Steve Ellerby and Rose Jakeman discuss the unfair dismissal measures in the Employment Rights Act 2025 including:

• What the ERA 2025 measures on unfair dismissal say

• The implications of the right to bring an ordinary unfair dismissal claim becoming subject to a 6 month qualifying service period from 1 January 2027

• What unfair dismissal attracting unlimited compensation means for litigation, including Polkey deductions and losses that may be claimed under the new regime

In this episode from our NHS Estates Series, Kesena Omakobia and Dean Parrett unpack the essentials of NHS property acquisitions - from choosing the right route to occupation to navigating due diligence, governance, risk and deal terms. A quick, practical guide for anyone involved in NHS estates, planning or service transformation.

The Employment Rights Bill is now very close to becoming an Act of Parliament, with just one significant measure on unfair dismissal compensation left to be resolved.

In the third episode of series two in our podcast series, DACB experts, Partner Michelle Corrigan, and Legal Directors Ceri Fuller and Joanne Bell, look at the latest developments in the Parliamentary ping pong process, including on unfair dismissal, and the measures on which we expect there to be consultation in 2026.

The podcast also includes a discussion of what employers can do to prepare for the reduction in the unfair dismissal qualifying period, and whether the measures identified in the government's roadmap as due to come into force in April 2026 are likely still to be implemented within that timeframe.

In this latest episode from our Property Headaches podcast series, partner Nicola Fairbairn talks to legal director Gwyneth Barton and senior associate George Taylor about the Renters Rights Act.

Together they discuss what the Renters' Rights Act intends to achieve, when the provisions are to come into force, and what the key steps are that landlords need to take to prepare.

In this episode of the NHS Estates Series, Terri Trapnell and Madeline Ball outline the key elements of green leases, including sustainability clauses, data sharing, cost considerations, and clinical constraints. They discuss how these agreements support NHS net zero targets, address EPC compliance, and balance the needs of landlords and tenants, with practical guidance from the NHS Green Leases Framework.

In this latest episode from our Property Headaches podcast series, partner Nicola Fairbairn talks to partner Jonathan Bond about refurbishment of existing buildings, and how and where the liability sits for building condition during fit-out works.

Together they discuss how clients should go about delivering a fit-out project, what changes have been introduced to building refurbishments as a result of the Building Safety Act 2022, and who is responsible when things go wrong.

In this episode of our NHS Estates podcast series, Lisa Geary is joined by Alex Taylor, Director of Estates at Operose Health, and Dr. James Dixon, Regional Medical Director at Operose Health, to explore the NHS 10 Year Health Plan and its impact on primary care and the primary care estate.

They discuss what the Plan's aims to transform primary care through community-based delivery, digital innovation, a shift toward prevention and the overall focus on neighbourhood services delivery will mean for the primary care estate. This conversation offers a deep dive into the opportunities and challenges ahead.

In this podcast, our experts, partner Sarah George, consultant Stephen Foster and knowledge lawyer Joanne Bell, discuss the changes that will be bought in by the Employment Rights Bill in relation to expanding workers' protection from harassment, bereavement leave, enhanced protection of pregnant employees and new mothers, flexible working and family leave rights, and gender equality action plans. This includes discussion of what the current version of the Bill says on these topics, and what further information is contained in the two consultations that were published late last month, on bereavement leave and enhanced dismissal protection for pregnant employees and new mothers.