The XpertHR Podcast (UK)
XpertHR.co.uk
XpertHR.co.uk
- 28 minutes 46 secondsHR priorities for 2026 – top tips for a great year
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.
Related resourcesOn 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
10 December 2025, 3:35 pm - 29 minutes 18 secondsEmployment Rights Bill – preparing for the April 2026 changes
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.
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
1 December 2025, 3:32 pm - 33 minutes 42 secondsEmployment Rights Bill – the whats and whens of the trade union-related reforms
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.
Related resourcesEmployment Rights Bill: 10 key policies employers need to revamp
On your radar: Employment Rights Bill updates and HR mythbusting
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Key takeaways- 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.
17 November 2025, 4:36 pm - 21 minutes 12 secondsRethinking how your organisation supports new parents
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.
ResourcesEqualised 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
Key Takeaways- 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.
3 November 2025, 6:09 pm - 34 minutes 29 secondsEU Pay Transparency Directive – what is it and what does it mean for employers in the UK?
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
16 October 2025, 2:24 pm - 38 minutes 53 secondsEmployment Rights Bill - where we are now, what to expect next
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.
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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
26 September 2025, 8:00 pm - 25 minutes 58 secondsProbationary periods: lessons from recent tribunal cases
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!
Related resources
On your radar - Employment Rights Bill updates and HR mythbusting
Webinar: Getting probationary periods right as Employment Rights Bill changes loom
17 September 2025, 2:38 pm - 33 minutes 40 secondsEmployment Rights Bill – trade unions and workers' rights
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.
What to read, listen to and watch nextApril 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
30 July 2025, 10:51 am - 23 minutes 31 secondsEssential talent-retention strategies - from secondments to talent pathways
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.
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
30 June 2025, 12:36 pm - 34 minutes 2 secondsGender pay gap reporting - challenges and upcoming changes
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
4 June 2025, 10:13 am - 22 minutes 8 secondsImmigration law changes 2025 – what HR needs to know
Ferzana Ahmed and Mith Ragukaran, solicitors at law firm Fragomen, join us to talk through the latest immigration developments and issues affecting HR professionals, including what's on the horizon.
Related resources
Transition to eVisas 2024: Key updates and action points for employers
13 May 2025, 11:02 am - More Episodes? Get the App