Top 5 Reads for Busy People: quick, sharp, done ⚡📰

1. Big pension changes could be coming in the November Budget. Employers, stay tuned.
2. Christmas shopping during work hours? Might be time to dust off those policies.
3. The latest skills survey shows digital and management skills in high demand.
4. More senior exits at the BBC. What’s really going on behind the scenes?
5. A new tribunal case is stirring the pot on belief and transgender rights.

In other news................We’re excited to announce the return of our HR Network! Our upcoming HR Network Lunch at Cafe Parisien, Belfast on Wednesday 3rd December (12:30–2:00pm) is already filling up. Join peers, the Legal Island Knowledge Team and Legal Island MD Jayne Gallagher for good food, great conversation, and a DEI chat with expert Jude Copeland. A few limited places remain, so if you’d like to attend this FREE networking get-together, please contact kerry@legal-island.com directly. RSVP by 5pm on Wednesday 12th November.

**Please note that a small number of people are experiencing some issues with our website, which may have impacted your view of the Friday Round-Up. If this is the case, please hold down Ctrl, Shift and the 'R' key. Hopefully this resolves any technical issues and you can view the full Friday-Round-Up. We apologise for any inconvenience in this regard.**

1. Case Law Reviews
2. AI and Employment Law
3. Inquiry to review rise in young people not working or studying
4. Pension reforms and the November Budget: what employers need to know
5. Supreme Court Defeat for Ryanair Marks Major Victory for Workers’ Rights
6. Economic Outlook
7. Just in Case You Missed It...
8. HR Developments
9. Employment News in the Media
10. GB Developments
11. Friends of Legal Island
12. Free Webinars This Month

Maginn v Wee Power Ltd t/a Pineview Day Nursery [2025] NIIT 33391/23

Summary Description: Protected disclosure was made but the Claimant did not suffer detriment as a result of it

Claimant: Jacqueline Maginn

Respondent: Wee Power Ltd t/a Pineview Day Nursery

Practical Guidance for Employers: 

The issue of protected disclosures can cause some fear amongst employers in terms of being able to continue acting within, what can be, a sensitive environment. In this case, there were issues between the employer and employee such as the grievance process and investigation. The employer was found to have not treated the Claimant with detriment as they had a reasoned basis for the decisions and processes being carried out. This is guidance for employers that they can continue to act even where such an allegation has been raised but that it must be on the basis of policies and procedures as well as ensuring that it is reasonable rather than being based upon the fact that a disclosure was made. 

Read the Review in full: Maginn v Wee Power Ltd t/a Pineview Day Nursery [2025]

Monroe v RNLI [2025] Case No: 6010602/2024

Summary Description: Unfair dismissal claim was successful when the investigation was just recounting the evidence rather than testing it and the Claimant did not have precise details on the allegations against him.

Claimant: GD Monroe

Respondent: Royal National Lifeboat Institution

Practical Guidance for Employers: 

This case demonstrates the importance of having a robust and thorough process which properly investigates the matters arising rather than just copying the evidence that has been obtained.  The Tribunal made it clear that the Claimant was not blameless and found that he had made some concerning remarks within the workplace. The dismissal action was still successful as the allegations were not fully put to the Claimant, and he was not fully aware of each of those allegations. 

Read the Review in full: Monroe v RNLI [2025]

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These case reviews were written by Jason Elliott BL.  NI Tribunal decisions are available on the OITFET website.

If you have any queries or wish to comment on the reports please feel free to contact Jason at: jasondelliott@outlook.com 

Jason Elliott was called to the Bar of Northern Ireland in 2013 and is the Associate Head of School of Law at Ulster University. As a practising barrister, he has developed a largely civil practice representing individuals, companies and public bodies in litigation.  This covers a wide range of areas including personal injuries, wills and employment law. In terms of employment law, he has represented both applicants and respondents in the Industrial Tribunal.   At Ulster University, Jason lectures extensively on the civil areas of practise such as Equity and Trusts and delivers employment law lectures for both undergraduate and postgraduate students.

Remember: Our case law reviews are held in our case law section on our fully-searchable employment law hub website.

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Employee use of AI outstrips companies’ readiness

According to the study by Accenture, 78% of UK workers already use generative AI at least weekly, with 40% using it every day. Yet only 24% of workers say they have received training on how to collaborate with AI. The result is a widening gap between employees eager to experiment and employers struggling to reinvent learning. Personnel Today has more here.

EU could water down AI Act amid pressure from Trump and big tech

The European Commission is considering plans to delay parts of the EU’s Artificial Intelligence Act, after intense pressure from businesses and Donald Trump’s administration. The commission confirmed that “a reflection” was “still ongoing” on delaying aspects of the regulation, after media reports that Brussels was weighing up changes with the aim of easing demands on big tech companies. More from the Guardian.

Can ChatGPT and other AI chatbots give legal advice?

OpenAI’s recent policy update sparked headlines that suggested ChatGPT had been banned from providing users with legal, medical and financial advice. However, OpenAI has since clarified (via a now-deleted X post) that this isn’t a new restriction but a reinforcement and restatement of an existing principle — that ChatGPT has never been a substitute for professional advice. Here, Esme Steiger and Morgan Lewis from Brabner’s technology sector team explain what exactly went down this week. More here.

AI for HR Weekly Podcast with Barry Phillips 🎙️

This week's episode: Why it's Time for HR to Lead AI Adoption.

You can tune into the latest episode right here - or, if you’re on the move, why not take us with you?

Listen on all major platforms: 🎧 Spotify🎧 Amazon Music 🎧 Apple Podcasts

Simply search for “AI for HR Weekly Podcast” and enjoy expert insights anytime, anywhere.

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Former Labour Health Secretary Alan Milburn will lead an inquiry into "Neets" - the acronym for young people who are not in education, employment or training. It is not a new problem but the number of young people who are Neet - now one in eight - has been rising in recent years and is approaching one million. A quarter cite long-term sickness or disability as a barrier and the number claiming health and disability benefits is rising too. More from the BBC.

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The Autumn Budget, due on 26 November 2025, is widely expected to mark a new phase in the UK’s approach to pension taxation and workplace saving. For employers, potential reforms to tax relief, lump sum rules and contribution structures could have material consequences for payroll and reward strategy, as well as workforce planning. While nothing is confirmed until we hear it from the Chancellor in Parliament, it’s becoming clear that pensions are, once again, central to the government’s revenue debate. Jennifer Baxter, solicitor in the JMW Employment team, looks at the potential outcomes of pensions reform in the upcoming Budget in this article for Insider Media.

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The Supreme Court has denied Ryanair's appeal in a key workers’ rights case, upholding a ruling that pilot Jason Lutz was a temporary worker, not self-employed. Lutz, who flew solely for Ryanair since 2017 via Storm Global Ltd, wore the airline’s uniform, followed its schedules, and needed approval for holidays, indicating an employment relationship. UK Aviation News has more on this. 

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Three quarters think UK ‘heading in wrong direction’ as Budget looms

The UK is heading in the wrong direction in the latest sign of rising gloom about the state of the country’s economy. A City AM/Freshwater Strategy poll has shown that 76 per cent of voters are pessimistic about the future of the country, the highest level of pessimism recorded since polling began in January this year. Fewer than one in five people (19 per cent) said the UK was heading in the “right direction”, reports City AM.

Latest ONS Figures:

Employment rate

Aged 16 to 64 seasonally adjusted (Jul - Sep 2025)
75.0%

Unemployment rate
Aged 16+ seasonally adjusted (Jul - Sep 2025)
5.0% - ↑ 0.7pp on previous year

You can find out more here. 

And the labour market statistics were published by the Northern Ireland Statistics & Research Agency:

The proportion of people aged 16 to 64 in work (the employment rate) is 71.4%
The economic inactivity rate increased by 0.1pps over the year to 26.8%.

You can find out more here.

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Avoiding Common Pitfalls in Mediation

HR professionals acting as mediators must stay neutral, set clear ground rules, listen actively, de-escalate emotions, and encourage parties to own their resolutions. Agreements should be summarised in writing, followed up, and confidentiality strictly maintained throughout the process. Rosemary Connolly and Kathy Sinclair share their insights here.

“I is for Induction:” Why First Impressions Matter

When a new employee joins an organisation, the induction process is far more than a brief tour and sign up to policies. A well designed induction sets the tone for the individual’s employment with the Company. Get it wrong, and you risk early disengagement, wasted investment and higher turnover. Get it right, and you accelerate productivity, build stronger culture and enhance retention. Read more from Charlotte Eakin, HR Consultant at AAB.

One-in-five workers secretly hold a second job

As more employees take on second jobs to make ends meet or pursue new interests, INTOO UK & Ireland is calling for greater transparency between employers and staff to avoid burnout, legal risks and a decline in job performance. More.

Christmas shopping at work? What employers need to know

A recent employment tribunal decision ruled in favour of an employee dismissed after her employer monitored her personal use of shopping and property websites. As the festive shopping season approaches, Personnel Today examines what employers can learn from this decision.

Employer Skills Survey 2024

The Employer Skills Survey (ESS) is a large-scale survey of employers across the UK, designed to understand the skills challenges faced by business, including their extent, nature and impact within both their existing workforce, and when recruiting. Findings include:

• 25% of all vacancies were skill-shortage vacancies – that is, they were hard to fill due to lack of skills, knowledge or experience among applicants
• 56% of employers provided training to staff in the previous year
• 8% of employers use AI. 60% started in the last 12 months.

You can find out more here.

People profession key to helping organisations adopt AI sustainably and responsibly in an uncertain labour market

The CIPD’s quarterly Labour Market Outlook reveals that UK employer hiring confidence remains at a record low, excluding the COVID-19 period. A key factor is the anticipated impact of AI, with one in six employers expecting to reduce their workforce over the next year due to automation, while 6% foresee an increase in headcount. Among large private firms, one in four expect staff reductions, compared to 17% across the private sector and 20% in the public sector. Globally, similar trends are emerging, with the World Economic Forum predicting that 40% of employers worldwide will cut jobs by 2030 in favour of AI automation. Read more. 

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The BBC's director general Tim Davie and head of news Deborah Turness have resigned after criticism that a Panorama documentary misled viewers by editing a speech by Donald Trump. Davie, in the job for five years, had faced increasing pressure over a series of controversies and accusations of bias that have dogged the public broadcaster. More here from BBC.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ forthcoming Budget is expected to feature major tax changes around the Cycle to Work scheme and other salary sacrifice schemes, including for cars and pensions. The scheme, launched in 1999, allows employees to save tax on bicycles by means of an interest-free loan from their employers, allowing cyclists to save up to 42% on the cost of a full-price bike, with payments automatically deducted from their gross salary before tax and national insurance are applied. Find out more.

More than 200 staff working at Grand Theft Auto developers Rockstar North have signed a letter to senior management condemning the sacking of 31 employees last week, in a move that they call ‘union busting’. The letter, which calls for the reinstatement of the workers, comes after protests were held outside the company’s Edinburgh headquarters at Barclay House. Read more.

A City banker who “made up” false claims he had been sexually harassed by a manager while wearing a string vest at work has been sent to jail and given a £150,000 court bill. Damilare Ajao worked for German finance giant Commerzbank before being sacked. He claimed he was pestered by a female manager who “flirtatiously” told him she could see his nipples and tried to touch his Gucci belt buckle in the staff canteen. The Independent has more on this story. 

A woman who claims she was unlawfully discriminated against for her beliefs by her former employer has told a tribunal she was not opposed to transgender rights. Sara Morrison has brought a case against Belfast Film Festival (BFF) where she worked as an inclusion and audience development coordinator. In her claim, she says she was forced out of her job after she joined a rally for Let Women Speak in 2023. The BFF launched an investigation into her attendance and she left work citing stress. More from the BBC.

Thousands of NHS staff redundancies in England will now go ahead after a deal was reached with the Treasury to allow the health service to overspend this year to cover the cost of pay-offs. The government said earlier this year 18,000 admin and managerial jobs would go with NHS England, the body that runs the NHS, being brought into the Department of Health and Social Care alongside cuts to local health boards. The BBC has more here.

Lloyds Banking Group used information from the personal bank accounts of more than 30,000 staff as part of its pay negotiations. The UK's biggest lender compared its employees' spending habits to the wider public to show if they weathered the cost-of-living crisis better, reports the BBC. 

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NB: Please note these articles relate to GB and do not apply in Northern Ireland, unless otherwise stated.

Non-disclosure agreement ban in GB: ‘drafting of Bill is crucial’

Ministers must ensure the GB Employment Rights Bill is properly drafted if it is to end the ‘systemic problem’ presented by non-disclosure agreements, an employment lawyer has said. The GB Employment Rights Bill aims to ban the use of NDAs by employers (in England and Wales) to prevent victims of harassment or discrimination from speaking out, a proposal that has met with agreement from law specialists, HR professionals and campaign groups. More from Personnel Today.

GB EHRC extends McDonald’s legal agreement on preventing sexual harassment

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has extended its legal agreement with McDonald’s Restaurants to protect its staff from sexual harassment. In March, the EHRC wrote to every branch of McDonald’s in Great Britain, warning franchise owners they could face action if they fail to protect staff from sexual harassment. Around 80-90% of McDonald’s UK restaurants are franchises. More from Personnel Today.

Updates to DBS ID checking

DBS published new guidance on ID verification checks for the purposes of DBS applications which took effect on 1st November 2025. Melissa Mhondoro, Solicitor and Head of Legal Advice at  the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) legal team outlines the changes in this article.

Thousands of NHS England staff to be made redundant

Thousands of NHS staff will be made redundant as the government presses ahead with plans to abolish NHS England, The Independent has been told. In a briefing to staff on Tuesday, NHS England confirmed voluntary redundancies planned for the organisation, as well as local NHS integrated care boards, will go ahead next year. Read more.

Peers warn of tribunal overload without clearer lead on flexible work requests

The growing popularity of hybrid and home working means it is imperative government clearly defines the grounds on which it is ‘reasonable’ for an employer to reject a request to work flexibly – or risk our already struggling tribunal system being overwhelmed by litigation, peers have warned. Personnel Today has more on this.

New UK cybersecurity bill presented to parliament after torrid year

The UK’s much anticipated Cyber Security and Resilience Bill was presented to the UK parliament this week, after losses from cyberattacks estimated at £14.7bn per year. The Cyber Security and Resilience Bill proposes tough new laws to increase UK defences against cyberattacks, in order to better protect critical public services such as transport, utilities and the NHS. Silicon Republic has more. 

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AI and the recruitment process

Seamus McGranaghan: ‘Recent Workday case, where prospective job applicants alleged that their AI screening process was unfairly discriminatory towards older applicants, is an alarming example of how things can go wrong’. More here. 

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Employment Law at 11 is taking a well-earned break for November and December but don’t worry, we’ll be back in 2026, refreshed and ready to dive into more of the latest in employment law!

Enjoy your weekend!

Legal Island

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