First published on Friday, October 30, 2026
Last updated on Friday, October 30, 2026
Trade union access rights
From 30th October, businesses with more than 21 employees should prepare for more access by trade unions.
Trade unions will have the right to access the workplace and offer support to employees. You need to decide who will handle access requests and know what to do if a request comes in.
Read about engaging with trade unions in our article: https://www.brighthr.com/articles/employment-law/trade-unions/
Why good records matter
At the recent SME Summit, small business owners joined us at BrightHR HQ, bringing their biggest employment law questions to our experts. And the main questions they had were around documentation.
As business owners, you need clear records to show that you’ve made fair decisions and followed the right processes. This has become even more important as employment law changes under the Employment Rights Act 2025, and the Fair Work Agency gains new inspection and enforcement powers.
Inspectors may ask for evidence on pay, working hours, holidays, policies and training. And with the tribunal claim limit set to increase from three months to six, you may need to explain decisions made months earlier.
Keeping secure, digital records in one place gives you the proof you need without digging through emails and folders. Find out more in our blog: https://www.brighthr.com/blog/employment-law/record-keeping-protects-your-business/
Employment status consultation
The Government is asking for views on possible changes to the way employment status works.
Put simply, the changes could:
Make it harder to class someone as self-employed if the business directs and controls their work
Reduce the impact of contractual substitution clauses when deciding if someone is a worker
Ask businesses to provide clearer proof that someone is genuinely self-employed
Bring tougher consequences for businesses that repeatedly get employment status wrong
Give genuinely self-employed people clearer terms and potentially stronger health and safety and blacklisting protections.
Want to share your views? The consultation closes on 8th January 2026. You can take part here: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/makework-pay-employment-status-reform-and-protections-for-the-self-employed
And that’s a wrap from me. Tune in next time for my take on the latest headlines and employment law stories, helping keep your business ahead!
