The Linklaters Podcast

Episode 3: Introducing the Employment Rights Act 2025 Speakers: Nick Marshall, Avani Agarwal, Hayley Tennant A major shift in the enforcement of employment rights is on its way with the creation of the new Fair Work Agency.  In our podcast, we unpick the key aspects of the new body, including: Employment rights and protections within its remit. Not only will the Fair Work Agency assume powers from HMRC, the Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate, and the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority, but it will also take on additional responsibilities. Its investigatory and enforcement powers. These are broad and include the right to enter business premises and obtain documents, and significantly, to bring employment tribunal proceedings on behalf of workers who have chosen not to. Preparatory steps employers can take ahead of its launch in April 2026.

Episode 2: Introducing the Employment Rights Act 2025 Speakers: Kloe Halls, Anjali Raval, Alice Dunn Workplace harassment laws are set for the biggest overhaul in over a decade under the new Employment Rights Act 2025 (“ERA 2025”).  In our podcast, we discuss how employers can prepare for the four headline changes:  Strengthening the duty to prevent sexual harassment. The duty to take 'reasonable steps' to prevent sexual harassment of staff will be ramped up to ‘all reasonable steps’ from October 2026.   Employer liability for third-party harassment. Employers will be liable if they fail to take all reasonable steps to prevent third parties from harassing staff from October 2026.   Whistleblowing protection for disclosures about sexual harassment. The ERA 2025 adds sexual harassment as a new category of wrongdoing about which workers can blow the whistle, effective from April 2026.  Banning confidentiality clauses for harassment and discrimination. This will be subject to a concept of an ‘excepted agreement’ where the ban won’t apply.   

Episode 1: Introducing the Employment Rights Act 2025 Speakers: Nick Marshall, Kloe Halls, Julie Toal In our podcast, we discuss the changes affecting employers in the following areas and how to prepare:  >    Unfair dismissal  >    Contractual variations  >    Workplace harassment  >    Collective redundancy   >    The Fair Work Agency 

In this podcast, James Marlow and Tom Cobbaert discuss next steps on changes to the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) under the Omnibus I package now that the European Parliament and Council have agreed their respective negotiation positions and trilogues have started. They also discuss next steps on changes to the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) which are happening alongside the Omnibus process. To listen to all episodes in this series, visit our ESG Soundbite Series webpage.

Episode 39: Payments Monthly Sam Quicke, Imran Bhaluani & Simon Treacy Providers of AI agents need to be careful about how they structure their products. Sam Quicke and Imran Bhaluani work through some of the key legal and regulatory considerations for agentic payments. Listen to all episodes on our Payments podcast webpage.