About this event
Navigating the 2026 Employment Law reforms
The 2026 legislative shifts are no longer “on the horizon”—they are here. With redundancy penalties doubling and major SSP reforms taking effect this April, the financial and legal stakes for HR have never been higher.
Why Attend?
- Expert Insight – Hear directly from legal experts as they break down the technicalities of the 2025 Act and what the April 2026 deadline means for your compliance.
- Protect Your Bottom Line – Understand the financial exposure of doubled redundancy penalties and new sick pay costs.
- Neutralise Risk – Identify the operational tripwires in day-one rights and strengthened harassment protections before they hit your desk.
- Lead with Confidence – Get a practical, strategic roadmap to update your policies and equip your managers for the April 2026 deadline.
- Peer Networking - Connect with local HR colleagues and CIPD Wessex members to share practical approaches and discuss common challenges in a collaborative setting.
Join us to move beyond the headlines and gain the clarity you need to lead your organisation through these transitions with confidence.
Are you ready for the biggest shift in UK employment law in over a decade?
With major reforms taking effect from February and April 2026, HR teams across the UK are facing significant operational and financial implications. From day‑one parental rights, to Statutory Sick Pay reforms, to strengthened union protections and doubled redundancy penalties - the landscape is about to change fast.
Join us for a focused HR briefing designed to help you:
· Understand the key changes coming into force throughout 2026
· Assess the financial impact and cost exposure for your organisation
· Identify the legal and operational risks HR must manage proactively
· Prepare your leaders and equip your managers with the right knowledge
This session is built for HR professionals: strategic, practical and insight‑led. Whether you’re leading HR, supporting managers, or driving organisational change, this event will help you stay ahead of the curve and protect your organisation from compliance risk.
Key Topics We’ll Cover
✔ Employment Rights Act 2025 changes coming into force in 2026
✔ Day‑One rights (parental leave, paternity leave)
✔ SSP reforms and the financial impact on sick pay budgets
✔ Union and industrial action changes
✔ Collective redundancy penalties - now double the financial exposure
✔ Strengthened whistleblowing & harassment protections
✔ Impact on policies, processes, systems and leadership capability
✔ Practical readiness
Speakers Bio: Stuart Seagrove
Senior Associate Solicitor & Head of Employment
Biscoes Solicitors
Stuart heads up the Employment Law Team at Biscoes and is a solicitor with substantial experience in assisting clients with a full range of employment law issues.
He advises businesses and individuals in all areas of employment law. In particular, his specialisms include Tribunal litigation involving unfair dismissals and complex discrimination and whistle blowing claims. He also regularly advises businesses on a full range of employment law related matters from their day-to-day employment law issues, including disciplinaries and grievances, to high court injunctive relief for breach of restrictive covenants and complex TUPE transfers. He assists businesses in restructuring and redundancies and assists in negotiating and drafting employment related agreements and settlement agreements.
