United Kingdom: Discrimination, Disability & Sexual Harassment

The workplace has changed radically in recent years, with the explosion of AI, new business risks and emerging topics generating workplace conflict.

On 20 May 2026, the Government announced several pilot schemes aimed at addressing what it refers to as the “broken” fit note system.

On 21 May 2026, the EHRC’s updated Services Code of Practice was laid in Parliament by the Minister for Women and Equalities, Bridget Phillipson.

This comprehensive employment law update examines critical developments reshaping workplace regulations, from mandatory pay equality reporting and action plans across Europe and the UK to expanded third-party harassment liability and new trade union access rights. The analysis explores how upcoming legislative changes will fundamentally alter employment contracts, settlement agreements, and employer obligations from 2026 through 2027.

This comprehensive update examines two significant Employment Appeal Tribunal decisions that clarify when misconduct constitutes grounds for summary dismissal and how discrimination compensation should be calculated. The article also covers major legislative developments including the Employment Rights Act 2025 implementation timeline, the establishment of the Fair Work Agency, and proposed reforms to non-disclosure agreements and pay gap reporting requirements.

The Government is consulting on the content of regulations aimed at limiting the use of non-disclosure agreements ('NDAs') in cases of workplace harassment or discrimination.

In this Inbrief, we summarise the basic legal position on maternity and adoption, shared parental leave, paternity leave, parental leave, time off for dependents, carer’s leave and flexible working...

As part of its “Plan to Make Work Pay,” the UK Government pledged to introduce mandatory ethnicity and disability pay gap reporting for large employers via a draft Equality (Race and Disability) Bill.

Sexual harassment will become a ‘qualifying disclosure' under whistleblowing law with effect from 6 April 2026. This will mean protection from detriment and unfair dismissal for whistleblowers...