What's on the horizon for HR and reward professionals in 2026?

In this episode, Brightmine experts Bar Huberman and Sheila Attwood break down the latest research and reveal the top priorities shaping the year ahead. Plus, CEO Scott Walker joins the conversation to explore one of the most transformative trends of recent years - AI in the workplace.

Tune in for actionable insights, expert analysis, and a look at what's next for HR strategy.

On your radar - Employment Rights Bill updates and HR mythbusting

How to lead HR planning for the Employment Rights Bill

Training guides and PowerPoint presentations: The complete list

Top HR priorities for 2026

Join the Brightmine team as they guide listeners through the Employment Rights Bill's bumpy journey through Parliament and offer practical advice on how HR professionals can prepare for the legislative changes expected to come into force in early 2024.

Stay ahead of the curve as our experts break down what's changing - from trade union rules and sick pay to family leave and whistleblowing protections - and get actionable tips to keep your organisation compliant.

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Resources

On your radar - Employment Rights Bill updates and HR mythbusting

How Lewis Silkin developed and rolled out its equalised new parent leave policy

Employment Rights Bill essentials: Statutory sick pay eligibility

With the Employment Rights Bill nearing the end of its journey through Parliament, Laura Merrylees, senior legal editor at Brightmine, is joined by Nick Chronias, a partner at DAC Beachcroft, to discuss the Bill's many trade union-related changes and provide a phase-by-phase guide to how HR departments can prepare for their implementation.

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Employment Rights Bill: 10 key policies employers need to revamp

On your radar: Employment Rights Bill updates and HR mythbusting

Podcast: Employment Rights Bill - where we are now, what to expect next

Webinar: Getting probationary periods right as Employment Rights Bill changes loom

• Phased rollout: Changes will begin two months after Royal Assent, with major reforms in April and October 2026, and final measures in 2027.
• Union ballots: Unions will be able to organise industrial action ballots more easily, with less information required and a reduced notice period (from 14 to 10 days). The rule requiring 50% turnout is still being debated.
• Union recognition: From April 2026, unions face lower hurdles for official recognition, including reduced membership and turnout thresholds.
• Workplace access: Starting in October 2026, unions will gain rights to access workplaces (physically and digitally), with strict timelines for employer responses and agreements.
• Informing staff: Employers must regularly inform employees of their right to join a union - new starters should get written statements, and existing staff receive annual reminders.
• Protections for union activity: Employees and union reps will be protected from penalties (other than pay deductions) for participating in official industrial action.
• Enforcement and consultations: Government consultations on these reforms are open until December 2025; breaches of access agreements may result in substantial fines (£75,000 per breach).
• Employer impact: All employers should update policies and prepare for shorter timelines, new communication duties and increased union engagement.

Does your organisation provide fair and equal leave and pay for all new parents? The Government has launched a full 18-month review of family-related leave and the Employment Rights Bill is set to introduce some changes in this area.

In the meantime higher expectations among the workforce appear to be prompting organisations to take matters into their own hands and to develop ambitious new policies.

In this episode of the podcast Zeba Sayed, senior legal editor at Brightmine, talks to Becs Peedell, employment lawyer at Lewis Silkin, about her organisation's equal new parent policy - and how it is seeking to encourage other firms to follow suit.

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Equalised new parent leave policy

How Lewis Silkin developed and rolled out its equalised new parent leave policy

Statutory neonatal care leave: What HR needs to know

On your radar - Employment Rights Bill updates and HR mythbusting

• The podcast discusses UK parental leave, the newly launched Government review and law firm Lewis Silkin's equalised new parent leave policy.
• UK statutory leave offers 52 weeks for mothers, 1-2 weeks for fathers, and shared parental leave, but uptake is low and policies are seen as outdated.
• Lewis Silkin's policy gives all new parents up to 52 weeks' leave, with 26 weeks at full pay for those with a year's service. Leave can be taken flexibly.
• The policy has seen high uptake, including among fathers, and has cost more than expected, but is viewed as a success for workplace equality.
• The firm encourages other organisations to consider similar policies, emphasising stakeholder buy-in and operational planning.

Ro Carracedo Lopez, senior International legal editor at Brightmine, discusses the EU Pay Transparency Directive, how member states are adopting its provisions into national law and · not least · its implications for UK organisations with Wouter Heere, Associate at Littler Netherlands, and Rui Rego Soares, Associate lawyer at Littler Portugal.

Related resources

Global EU pay transparency directive implementation comparative table

Demystifying the EU Pay Transparency Directive for UK employers

Podcast: Gender pay gap reporting - a global view

Darren Newman joins us to unpack the complexities of the Employment Rights Bill, soon to become the Employment Rights Act. We explore the bill's sweeping scope and discuss the practical implications for UK businesses. Listeners will gain expert insight into what's coming, what remains uncertain and how HR teams can prepare for the most significant overhaul of employment law in decades.

On your radar - Employment Rights Bill updates and HR mythbusting

HR for HR: How to build strong relationships to deal with the Employment Rights Bill

Webinar: Getting probationary periods right as Employment Rights Bill changes loom

UK employment law is evolving - are you prepared? In our latest podcast, Susie Munro, senior legal editor at Brightmine, looks at three recent tribunal cases relating to probationary periods, and discusses the upcoming introduction of a day-one right to claim unfair dismissal.

We share actionable insights, real tribunal stories and practical steps to help your organisation stay compliant and competitive. Listen now to future-proof your HR strategy!

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Related resources

On your radar - Employment Rights Bill updates and HR mythbusting

Webinar: Getting probationary periods right as Employment Rights Bill changes loom

Probationary periods: Tribunal round-up

This episode of the Brightmine podcast features Shantha David, Head of Legal Services at UNISON, in conversation with Robert Shore and Laura Kimpton. We dive into how the Bill is reshaping UK employment law, and explore the implications for HR.

Shantha has won landmark victories in the Supreme Court that have reshaped the legal landscape. Her work champions equity, dignity and justice for workers across the public sector.

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On your radar

April 2025 employment law changes: Five-point checklist for HR

Podcast: Neonatal care leave - a practical guide

Webinar: Ethnicity data disclosure - fostering trust and building engagement for a better workplace

Join us on the podcast as Jeya Thiruchelvam, Internal Communications and Engagement Lead at Brightmine, shares powerful insights on how organisations can truly harness the full potential of their people. Discover how employees can grow, thrive, and elevate their careers · all without changing employers. It's a conversation about talent, transformation, and the future of work you won't want to miss.

Download the transcript

Related Brightmine resources

Managing retention: Creating a retention strategy

Leadership development: A driver of business success

Four steps HR can take to help businesses and employees embrace the new "squiggly" careers era

Podcast: Rethinking recruitment and reskilling

Cathryn Edmondson, lead consultant at Innecto Reward Consulting, joins the podcast to talk about gender pay gap reporting - its history, current challenges and the upcoming legislative changes that organisations need to know about.

What to read, listen to and watch next

Pay transparency - do the right thing

Mind the gap: How are countries implementing the EU Pay Transparency Directive?

Podcast: Gender pay gap reporting - a global view

Webinar: Pay transparency - the value of honesty and some pitfalls to avoid