The Brightmine Podcast (UK)

Stephen Chegwin, a partner in the Employment and Labour division at Eversheds Sutherland, joins Brightmine senior legal editor Laura Merrylees to discuss the practical implications of the new right of union access to the workplace, which came into effect on 30 October 2026. Resources Employment Rights Act 2025: Trade union statement and union access - your questions answered  Trade union access to the workplace - what HR teams need to know and do before 30 October 2026  Trade union access: Employer response form  Employment Rights Act 2025 Hub  

The Employment Rights Act 2025 has strengthened what employers have to do to protect workers from sexual harassment. Robin Somerville, a practising barrister, mediator and workplace investigator, joins the podcast to discuss the legislative changes and describe how to carry out a workplace investigation if an allegation is made, and how that changes in cases of alleged criminal conduct, sexual assault or rape. Content note: This episode contains discussion of sensitive themes that some listeners may find distressing. Related resources Preventing and addressing workplace harassment: What is harassment? - Leading practice guide Sexual harassment risk assessment form Harassment, sexual harassment and victimisation risk assessment form (includes third-party harassment) Webinar: Employment Rights Act 2025 - October harassment law changes

What do you do when a brilliant performer is also a difficult boss? Put up with the behaviour because they deliver results, or show them the door? Confidence coach Stephen Tolfree argues there·s a third way. He joins the podcast to explore the fine art of boss whispering and how difficult leaders can be helped to recognise their impact and change their approach. Listen now to discover what it takes to get through to a boss who isn·t reading the room. Resources Boss whispering - how to bring about change in change-resistant abrasive managers Handling difficult conversations - line manager training  Developing performance: Five steps to unlocking your workforce's full potential  Employment Rights Act 2025 Hub 

With unfair dismissal protection kicking in after just six months from January 2027, probation is about to matter more than ever.   Organisations are already reviewing, and often shortening, their probationary processes in response to the Employment Rights Act 2025. Deborah Kent, HR manager at the Money Advice Trust, joins the podcast to explore how success profiles can strengthen onboarding and initial training.   Listen now to find out how to set new starters up for success from day one. Resources Probationary periods - line manager training Unfair dismissal reforms: Rethinking probationary periods Webinar: Unfair dismissal changes - are your probationary processes ready? Read the transcript

Burnout is a growing workplace challenge, driven by economic uncertainty, rapid change and the impact of AI. In this episode, Nicola Turner, founder of BodyMindBrain, explores why tackling the body's stress response, through regulation and recovery, may be the missing piece in preventing burnout and sustaining performance. Resources From wellbeing washing to proactive prevention: How HR can tackle the burnout crisis Championing a stress-free workplace: Understanding the causes of stress Podcast: The AI challenge - adjust your performance expectations and measurements now! Wellbeing research 2026

India's employment law framework is undergoing a once-in-a-generation transformation. As four new Labour Codes reshape everything from wages and contract labour to leave and workplace grievances, employers are facing a host of new challenges and opportunities.  Robert Shore speaks to Trilegal partner Swarnima about the reforms, the rise in workplace complaints, and why UK HR professionals should be paying close attention. Read the transcript Resources India International guide Employment Rights Act 2025 Hub Webinar: Employment Rights Act 2025 - October harassment law changes

There have been many significant legislative shifts in relation to flexible working in recent years, of course, and under the Employment Rights Act 2025 we are promised further changes. Charlotte Wiseman joins the podcast to look at the way flexible working is transforming employee expectations and workplace culture, and to offer some ideas about what best practice looks like in this new era. Resources The future of flexible working starts with HR Employment Rights Act 2025 Hub Flexible working: What strategy employers can adopt How to lead HR planning for the Employment Rights Act 2025

Brightmine legal editor Lilia Dangi joins the podcast to talk through recent and upcoming trade union-related reforms under the Employment Rights Act 2025. She discusses how these changes are modernising industrial relations and rebalancing the relationship between employers and unions, and looks in particular at: the new duty to inform workers of their right to join a union; unions' right of access to the workplace; and the role of the Fair Work Agency. Tune in to hear what employers need to know, and how these reforms could reshape the future of industrial relations. Related resources Employment Rights Act 2025 hub Employment Rights Act 2025 trade union law changes - your questions answered The ERA era - takeaways from our trade union reforms roundtable How to lead HR planning for the Employment Rights Act 2025 Webinar: Employment Rights Act 2025 - a user's guide

Some major changes are coming to the harassment laws in October. Global inequalities specialist – and licensed skipper – Georgie Williams joins the podcast to talk about what it's like to draw up an anti-harassment policy on a ship. What does it mean when you can't "clock off" and go home in the way you can with land-based office jobs? How does this change dynamics? What challenges does this raise? Resources Sexual harassment risk assessment form How to lead HR planning for the Employment Rights Act 2025 On your radar - Employment Rights Act 2025 updates and HR mythbusting Anti-harassment and anti-bullying policy

Organisation design expert and From-To founder Lilian Duckart joins Brightmine HR strategy and practice editor Laura Kimpton to discuss how HR departments can use organisation design to meet the changing needs of their business - and how AI can help. Resources Leading practice guide - organisation design: What is it? How to lead HR planning for the Employment Rights Act 2025 On your radar - Employment Rights Act 2025 updates and HR mythbusting