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UK Edition
9th March 2026
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THE HOT STORY

New Employment Rights Act ‘a huge boost for women in the workplace’

Women will disproportionately benefit from new workers’ rights measures being introduced next month, according to research by the TUC which says approximately 4.7 million women are to benefit from stronger sick pay from April. The TUC also notes that over 830,000 low-paid women will gain access to statutory sick pay for the first time. TUC general secretary Paul Nowak said: “For too long women have borne the brunt of a sick pay system that is not fit for purpose, and a culture of exploitative, insecure work . . . That’s why the Employment Rights Act is an important step forward for women at work.” A government spokesperson said: “The Employment Rights Act is a huge boost for women in the workplace – introducing enhanced protections for pregnant women and new mothers, menopause action plans for large employers and rights for parental leave from day one.”
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PAY COMPLIANCE

Navigating the Pay Transparency and ERA Revolution

British employers are facing a transformative period as the Employment Rights Act 2025 and evolving pay transparency standards redefine the workplace. From the removal of Statutory Sick Pay waiting periods to the shift toward mandatory gender pay gap action plans, the burden of compliance has never been heavier.

Access the ERA Essentials: Statutory Sick Pay eligibility

 
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HIRING

Hiring intentions fall in February

UK businesses are experiencing their lowest hiring optimism in nearly 15 years, according to BDO's employment index, which held at 93.30 in February. Analysts say rising employment costs and workers' rights reforms are putting pressure on firms, and although the decline in hiring intentions has slowed, BDO's report suggests that recovery appears unlikely. Meanwhile, a report from KPMG and the Recruitment and Employment Confederation suggests that demand for permanent hires and temporary workers continued to fall in February. Although permanent staff hires fell again, the decrease was the lowest recorded since March 2023.

Minister wants expert SEND staff to return

Georgia Gould, the schools minister, has announced a new £1.8bn "experts at hand" service aimed at increasing the availability of educational psychologists and other SEND professionals in schools. The initiative seeks to address chronic staff shortages and improve access to support for students. Gould said: “We have a really strong message to those people who have left the profession and moved out of these roles. What they often say to me is the reason they have is they're spending all their time doing form filling and administrative work, and not actually intervening to help children. Under this new system, this support will be ring-fenced to do the actual intervention, to be out in classrooms.”
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WORKFORCE

John Lewis workers await bonus news

Workers at the John Lewis Partnership will learn this week whether their first annual bonus in four years will be paid, as the group reports its full-year results to January and provides an update on its ongoing transformation strategy. Despite underlying profits rebounding to £126m last year, no bonus has been paid since 2022, though partners recently received a 6.9% pay increase under the £108m workforce investment. Analysts expect modest growth, with Waitrose sales forecast to rise around 4.5% and John Lewis by roughly 4%, reflecting the retailer's continued focus on store refurbishments and its renewed fashion and retail strategy. The outcome of the bonus announcement will also signal how far the partnership has progressed under chairman Jason Tarry's turnaround plans.

EIS gives notice for industrial action over workload

The EIS teaching union has issued a 10-day notice of its intention to take industrial action across Scotland's schools, raising the prospect of widespread strikes in the run-up to exams in the coming months. General secretary Andrea Bradley said the notice "allows us to keep our options open," and that despite "some progress" being made, "we have nothing in writing to reflect the commitment of the Scottish Government and local government organisation COSLA to deliver on past promises" on class contact time and teacher numbers.
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WORKPLACE

Government faces backlash over worker safety

Critics say the Crime and Policing Bill could create a "two-tier justice" system that fails to protect public-facing workers from rising violence. While it introduces a standalone offence for assaulting retail workers, it excludes many others, including transport guards and healthcare assistants. Baroness Tina Stowell said: "By excluding them, we are simply causing them to be unsure and not know where they stand." Statistics reveal that 44% of public-facing workers face daily abuse, with 26% taking extended sick leave. The Home Office insists existing laws are sufficient, but campaigners argue for broader protections.
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LEGAL

Odey battles FCA in court showdown

Financier Crispin Odey is set to challenge the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in court over a £1.8m fine and ban from financial services. The FCA claims Mr Odey acted with "lack of integrity" during investigations into his alleged inappropriate behaviour at Odey Asset Management. The hedge fund manager denies the allegations, asserting that the FCA sought a "totemic case" amid its expansion into non-financial misconduct.

Council sets aside £27m for equal pay dispute

Coventry City Council has allocated £27m to address financial risks linked to an ongoing equal pay dispute involving hundreds of female staff. The employees, supported by unions Unite and GMB, claim they have been underpaid compared to male colleagues since 2022. The council has set aside £9m annually for three years to manage this risk. Delcan Downes from GMB has urged the council to negotiate to avoid a court battle and increased costs.
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LEADERSHIP

AI 'could reverse boardroom equality progress'

Dame Debbie Crosbie, chief executive of Nationwide and the Treasury's Women in Finance Champion, highlights the disparity in leadership roles for women in UK firms, noting that while women hold over 42% of board seats in FTSE 350 companies, only 8% are chief executives. Dame Debbie warns that without intervention, AI could further disadvantage women, as they are more exposed to automation and less likely to utilise generative AI tools. "The choices leaders make now will determine whether AI widens or narrows gender gaps," Crosbie argues.
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RISK

Europol says Iran crisis raises threat of terror, cyberattacks

Europol has warned that the ongoing Middle East conflict will have "immediate repercussions" for European Union security, leading to an increased threat of terrorism, organised crime, and cyberattacks. Europol spokesman Jan Op Gen Oorth said that he anticipates a rise in cyberattacks targeting European infrastructure, alongside sophisticated online fraud driven by artificial intelligence. He observed that groups linked to Iran may engage in "destabilising activities" within the EU, including terrorist attacks. "The level of terrorist threat and violent extremism in EU territory is considered high," he said, noting that the rapid spread of polarising content online could accelerate radicalisation among diaspora communities.
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INTERNATIONAL

Overhauled visa system to get its first major test

The Trump administration's changes to the US visa system for highly skilled immigrants are set to be tested with the upcoming H-1B lottery. This year, sponsors must pay a $100,000 fee, which is expected to disadvantage IT consulting firms that have previously dominated the visa allocation. “This is going to be a bit of a sea change,” observed Peter Bendor-Samuel, the executive chairman of global research firm Everest Group, which works with companies that routinely use the H-1B program. Companies such as Cognizant have already reduced their reliance on H-1Bs, while others are prioritising hiring immigrants already in the US. Hiba Anver, a partner with Erickson Immigration Group, said: “There are several changes that taken collectively will diminish the tech industry's ability to attract and retain key talent . . . [this] will result in a smaller talent pool for tech companies.”

Europe braces for surge of migration from Middle East

Europe is preparing for a potential increase in immigration from the Middle East due to ongoing conflict in the region, according to Amy Pope, director-general of the International Organization for Migration. European governments are keen to adopt a proactive approach to manage the situation, especially given rising anti-immigrant sentiment. Pope said it was too soon to estimate how many people would flee from the region. “Right now people are primarily moving inside their countries - within Iran, within Lebanon, which is probably the place we're the most concerned about,” she said. Pope also drew attention to the “often forgotten” foreign workers that constitute large parts of the population in many Gulf countries and whom she said “are often not provided with the same level of support and attention and information as the nationals of a country.”

Singapore employers face crackdown on phantom workers

About 100 employers in Singapore have been penalised for fraudulently inflating their foreign worker quotas through "phantom worker" schemes, according to Manpower Minister Tan See Leng. These arrangements involve false Central Provident Fund contributions for non-existent local workers, allowing firms to exceed their foreign worker entitlements. Dr Tan said the Ministry of Manpower investigates such arrangements based on complaints as well as proactive on-site checks, and these are what led to the enforcement actions against the errant employers.
 
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