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This April brings a raft of employment law changes. Read more about this and other inclusion articles making the headlines
April 2026 employment law updates: what HR needs to know
Multiple employment law changes are set to come into force in April. In addition to the usual increase in the minimum wage, employers will also have to comply with new measures introduced under the Employment Rights Act.
These changes include updates to statutory sick pay entitlements, new whistleblowing protections and further reforms to trade union recognition.
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1st April 2026: National Living Wage rise welcomed - but millions still short of a real Living Wage
Research has warned that the majority of hospitality and retail workers are still being paid below the national living wage - highlighting inequalities across the sectors.
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Employers are not providing sexual harassment training, as the key Employment Rights Act deadline arrives
A large majority (81%) of HR professionals say they plan to increase their efforts on sexual harassment prevention under the Employment Rights Act (ERA), yet nearly one in eight say they have not provided any training.
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Why wellbeing needs to extend beyond desk-based workers
Workplace wellbeing is often built around employees who are visible, desk-based and easy to reach. But in sectors such as construction, where many people work across sites, supply chains and constantly shifting environments, that model breaks down quickly
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Co-op boss quits after ‘toxic culture’ claims
Toxic environments don’t just harm employee wellbeing; they damage trust, performance, and business outcomes. The root cause is often a lack of psychological safety, where employees feel unable to speak openly and raise concerns.
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James McAvoy says he’s faced ‘bias’ in industry over Scottish accent
James McAvoy has spoken about the “bias” that Scottish actors face in the wider film industry.
The Atonement and X-Men: First Class star, born in Glasgow, said that his accent had led him to be “reduced” in the minds of prospective collaborators.
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Schools do not have enough staff to make SEND reforms work, union warns
England's largest teaching union has said that schools do not have enough staff to achieve the government's aims of providing support for more children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in mainstream schools
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Language matters - Don’t call me 'wheelchair bound'
During my university graduation, as I proudly made my way toward the stage to receive my degree, a woman organising the event casually called me ‘wheelchair-bound.’ She didn’t mean to hurt me, but her thoughtless words made me feel so small and exposed
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Senegal's president signs law doubling prison sentences for same-sex relations
Senegal has signed into law a new measure targeting LGBTQ+ people, doubling prison sentences for same-sex relations and expanding criminal penalties to include the “promotion” of homosexuality.
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Automated decision-making in recruitment can lead to unfair or biased decisions
William Malcolm, executive director for regulatory risk and innovation at the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), said: “Use of AI and automation is rapidly transforming recruitment across the UK – from helping sift CVs to scoring online assessments. However, employers are being urged to review their use of automated decisions in recruitment to ensure the right protections are in place.
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