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UK Edition
17th December 2025
 
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THE HOT STORY

Labour's workers' rights bill clears final hurdle

Labour's Employment Rights Bill has successfully passed its final parliamentary stage and is expected to become law before Christmas. Business Secretary Peter Kyle expressed his delight, saying the legislation will modernise outdated employment laws and enhance workplace dignity. Key provisions include access to sick pay and paternity leave from day one, along with protections for pregnant women. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the development marked a "major victory for working people in every part of the country." Unite union's general secretary Sharon Graham said the bill must now be implemented "without any further dilution or delay." The bill applies to England, Scotland and Wales, but not Northern Ireland.
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LEGAL

Record delays plague employment tribunal system

Delays in the employment tribunal system have reached unprecedented levels, with over 515,000 claims pending as of September 2025. This represents a 33% increase from the previous year. Rob McKellar, legal services director at Peninsula, said: "With the current backlog of over half a million claims, and some regions listing cases for 2028, it’s clear that pressure on the tribunal system is higher than ever before." Business groups warn the Employment Rights Bill could worsen the backlog.

Disorganisation leads to landmark ADHD ruling

Nicole Hogger, a former public relations worker, has won a disability discrimination case against Genesis PR after being dismissed for alleged disorganisation linked to her ADHD. The Cambridge Employment Tribunal ruled that the term "disorganised" could undermine an employee and violate their dignity. Employment Judge Roger Tynan said that Genesis PR failed to consider Hogger's condition and did not take practical steps to support her. The judge concluded that Hogger's dismissal was unfair and discriminatory, violating the Equality Act 2010. Hogger is now set to receive compensation for her claims.

NHS ordered to pay £450,000 for discrimination

The NHS has been ordered to pay £449,548 to Professor Tanweer Ahmed after he successfully sued for race discrimination, victimisation, and unfair dismissal. The employment tribunal found significant flaws in the investigation that led to his dismissal over bullying allegations, which were deemed "laughable" and based on hearsay. Employment Judge Victoria Butler noted that the disciplinary process was biased and suggested that race may have influenced the decision. Ahmed, who has worked with the NHS since 2003, described the experience as being "pushed out of the job I loved."
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WORKFORCE

Unemployment rate hits highest since 2021

The Office for National Statistics has reported that the UK's unemployment rate rose to 5.1% in the three months to October, the highest level since early 2021. The increase reflects a challenging job market, particularly for younger workers, with youth unemployment reaching 16%. Average wage growth also declined to 4.6%, down from 4.7%. KPMG UK chief economist Yael Selfin said: "Younger workers are bearing the brunt of the slowdown in labour market activity." The rate of unemployment in London jumped from 6.5% to 6.8%. 

HMRC urges workers to check Christmas pay

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is urging workers, especially temporary staff, to make sure they receive at least the National Minimum Wage or National Living Wage over the Christmas period. Kevin Hubbard, HMRC Director Individuals and Small Business Compliance, said: "We want to make sure that workers are paid correctly this Christmas. People should check their hourly rate and look out for any deductions or unpaid working time, which could take them below the minimum wage."
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LEADERSHIP

Chanel reshuffles executive leadership team

Chanel has named Elisabetta Caldera as its new global chief people and organisation officer, succeeding Claire Isnard, with effect from January. She joins the company from Aegon, where she spent more than four years as global chief human resources officer.
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ECONOMY

Household financial fears hit two-year high

Household financial concerns in the UK have reached a two-year high, according to a survey by S&P Global. Confidence has declined for three consecutive months, with the consumer sentiment index dropping to 44.7 in December. Maryam Balunch, an economist at S&P Global, said: "Sentiment towards the financial outlook over the coming 12 months has soured to the gloomiest in two years." The survey also highlighted a decline in job security, particularly in IT, construction, and financial services, as households face increased financial pressures and reduced spending intentions.
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CORPORATE

Nissan revives Sunderland plant

Nissan has commenced production of its new Leaf electric vehicle at the Sunderland plant, supported by a £450m investment. The move revitalises the UK's largest car factory, which faced uncertainty earlier this year amid global factory shutdown plans.
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INTERNATIONAL

UPS underpaid holiday season workers, lawsuit alleges

The New York Attorney-General’s office has accused global delivery giant UPS of underpaying its seasonal workers. In a statement, Attorney-General Letitia James’ office said UPS “commits wage theft against these workers in myriad ways . . . [and] has repeatedly and persistently failed to pay seasonal delivery workers for all time worked,” suggesting that thousands of past and present workers have been affected. The filing alleges workers were not being paid for their labour before and after shifts as well as during meal breaks, and that the company's timekeeping “introduced and compounded” errors.

Louvre workers launch rolling strike

Workers at the Louvre Museum in Paris voted to strike on Monday amid ongoing concerns about working conditions. The CFDT union reported that 400 workers participated in the vote, leading to the museum's closure. The decision followed unsuccessful talks with government officials, including Culture Minister Rachida Dati. Labour leaders said the talks had not remedied all of their concerns about staffing and financing.
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OTHER

UK to rejoin EU’s Erasmus programme

Labour is set to announce an agreement to rejoin the Erasmus scheme in 2027 as Sir Keir Starmer’s administration continues to edge closer to the EU. Under the student exchange programme, European students will be able to come to the UK to study for a year as part of their course, whilst continuing to pay fees at their home university. British students will have the same right to spend a year at a university on the Continent. The UK government is also negotiating a youth mobility scheme with the EU that will see thousands of young British and European citizens be given the right to live and work in each other’s countries.
 
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