5 Must-Knows This Week:

1. Clocks go back - here’s how to manage the extra working hour ⏰
2. Real Living Wage rises - are your pay rates keeping up? 💷
3. One in five staff share sensitive data with unsecured AI tools 🤖
4. NI health probe halts agency hiring after fake reference scandal 🕵️‍♂️
5. Teacher wins £140K after backlash over sick leave for back surgery ⚖️

In other news................It’s almost here! Legal Island’s Annual Review of Employment Law, our flagship event of the year takes place on 13th November, live at the Crowne Plaza Belfast (and online for those who prefer to tune in from afar).

**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. Annual Review Session of the Week - Regulating AI in Northern Ireland Workplaces – Key Strategies for HR Leaders
2. Case Law Reviews
3. AI and Employment Law
4. Jobs & Recruitment
5. Sickness & Ill-health
6. Discrimination continues in construction
7. £6 million repaid to workers as Government cracks down on employers underpaying their staff
8. Real Living Wage Rates Increase to £13.45 in UK and £14.80 in London
9. Northern Ireland: Pay gap reporting limited to gender for now
10. Just in Case You Missed It...
11. HR Developments
12. Employment News in the Media
13. GB Developments
14. Free Webinars This Month

Regulating AI in Northern Ireland Workplaces – Key Strategies for HR Leaders

Northern Ireland’s unique position under the Windsor Framework means HR leaders must align with EU AI rules rather than UK-only guidance.

Join Sarah Cochrane, Partner at Carson McDowell, as she explains how the EU AI Act affects HR tech from recruitment and monitoring tools to performance systems. Learn key enforcement dates, banned AI uses, and what counts as high-risk AI, plus who will regulate AI in NI.

Stay ahead and ensure your HR team uses AI responsibly and compliantly.

It’s almost here! Legal Island’s Annual Review of Employment Law, our flagship event of the year takes place on 13th November, live at the Crowne Plaza Belfast (and online for those who prefer to tune in from afar).

This is the go-to event for HR professionals who want to stay ahead of the curve, get practical insights from leading experts, and connect with peers who are shaping the future of work.

Each week between now and the big day, we’ll shine a spotlight on the must-see sessions in this year’s packed programme.

Don’t miss out.  Check out the full line-up and secure your spot today. More details here.

Back to Top

White v Chief Constable of the PSNI [2025] NIIT 35956/23

Summary Description: 

Claim was regarded as being out-of-time and time could not be extended on the basis of the understanding of the law changing and the claimant’s argument that he was not aware of the news surrounding the PSNI holiday-pay case.

Claimant: 

Jonathan White

Respondent: 

Chief Constable of the PSNI

Practical Guidance for Employers:

The Agnew decision continues to have an impact on the Tribunal and some of the outlier cases are having to be examined.  This case was some 16 years out of time considering the claimant’s employment came to an end in August 2007.  The Tribunal made it clear that a different understanding of the law at a particular time does not automatically mean that the presentation of a claim within the primary time limit was not reasonably practicable.   This is something to consider where there are changes to the law that may arise through Tribunal, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court judgments.

Read the Review in full: White v Chief Constable of the PSNI [2025]

Lonsdale v Almac Pharma Services [2025] NIIT 37635/23

Summary Description: 

Duty to make reasonable adjustments was complied with despite disagreements with the provision of breaks on the return to work following a period of sick leave.

Claimant: 

Paul Lonsdale

Respondent: 

Almac Pharma Services

Practical Guidance for Employers:

This case demonstrates how the Tribunal would consider whether the duty to make reasonable adjustments has been discharged.  It is clearly not an absolutist duty with the Tribunal recognising that there could have been more done about ensuring ad hoc breaks were allowed but looking at the actions of the respondent in adjusting the shifts to allow for a break, looking at the type of work undertaken and the other steps taken by the respondent in relation to Action Mental Health documentation led to a finding that the disadvantage was being reasonably mitigated by the steps taken by the respondent.

Read the Review in full: Lonsdale v Almac Pharma Services [2025]

Back to Top

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.

Back to Top

One in five employees inputs sensitive data into non-secure AI, says report

A report published on Tuesday (21 October) by global professional services company Accenture has highlighted the impact of sub-standard cybersecurity training and practices in today’s vulnerable landscape.  During the month of August, Accenture, in partnership with 3Gem, collected data from 1,000 Irish office workers aged 18 and over. What was discovered is that 19pc – nearly one out of every five – of contributing professionals admitted to inputting sensitive business data such as customer details and financial information into free, unsecured artificial intelligence (AI) tools. More here.

OpenAI Launches Its Own Web Browser—ChatGPT Atlas—As Alphabet Shares Fall

OpenAI announced ChatGPT Atlas in a livestream Tuesday, its own web browser, setting Alphabet shares back more than 2% Tuesday over concerns it could become a rival to Google Chrome. Read here.

Microsoft reveals jobs most vulnerable to AI

Staff in research-intensive roles, financial advisers, translators and sales representatives will be among the first victims of the rise of machine learning and workplace automation, new research by Microsoft suggests. The study, which analysed 200,000 conversations between users of its Copilot’s chatbot to find out what they used the tool for, indicated that the occupations most immune to AI included nurses, ship engineers, plasterers and highway maintenance workers. More from Personnel Today. 

AI for HR Weekly Podcast – with Barry Phillips

This week's episode: No such thing as the perfect prompt? Maybe it’s time to rethink this?

This week Barry Phillips asks himself whether it is time to go back on his earlier advice that there’s no such thing as the perfect prompt for an LLM.

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.

Back to Top

Government aims to create 400,000 jobs through UK national green energy plan

Plumbers, electricians and welders will be in huge demand as part of a national plan to train people for an extra 400,000 green jobs in the next five years, Ed Miliband has said. The energy secretary unveiled a scheme to double the number of people working in green industries by 2030, with a particular focus on training those coming from fossil fuel jobs, school leavers, the unemployed, veterans and ex-offenders. More from the Guardian.

Agency staff recruitment paused after NI health service probe revealed supply workers using fake references

Health Trusts in Northern Ireland “paused” the recruitment of agency staff after it was found that some supplied workers had provided fake references over the summer. Managers were told to be vigilant when carrying out identity checks after it was reported in July that an agency had been asked by the Department of Health to review all staff they supplied to the health service in Northern Ireland due to concerns over bogus international references. More from the Belfast Telegraph.

Back to Top

Teacher wins £140K payout after co-worker said she 'let students down' by taking sick leave for back operation

A disabled teacher has been awarded a six-figure payout after a co-worker told her she “let colleagues down” by taking sick leave for an operation. Annika Robinson left school for five months following treatment on her back and took another period of absence shortly afterwards. Now Robinson has been awarded £140,000 in damages after winning complaints of harassment relating to disability. More from The Standard.

Disability and ill-health driving increase in ‘Neet’ numbers

New analysis has revealed that the increase in young people not in education, employment or training (Neet), is being driven by disability and ill-health. The number of young people aged 16-24 who are Neet has risen by 195,000 over the past two years to reach 940,000. The most common reason for being NEET is unemployment, but the largest increase in recent decades has been among those inactive due to disability and ill-health, according to analysis from the Resolution Foundation think tank, reports Personnel Today.

Back to Top

A new nationwide survey by CV-Library has found 42 per cent of construction workers have experienced or witnessed discrimination in their workplace, with only half viewing the sector as diverse and inclusive, The data highlights an inclusion gap that is slowing the sector’s progress – an industry already facing significant talent shortages. More from The Global Recruiter. 

Back to Top

Anyone you know on the list?

Almost 500 employers who failed to pay the minimum wage have been named as the Government takes direct action to Make Work Pay.

Back to Top

Almost half a million people working for more than 16,000 real Living Wage Employers throughout the country are set for a vital pay boost, as the real Living Wage rates rise to £13.45 an hour across the UK (85p or 6.7% increase), and £14.80 an hour in London (95p or 6.9% increase).  More here.

Back to Top

Gender pay gap reporting will go ahead in Northern Ireland, but the threshold for employer size remains uncertain, and plans for mandatory reporting of pay gaps for ethnicity and disability have been paused for the time being. More here.

Back to Top

UK Immigration Overhaul: Key Changes to Student, Graduate and Work Routes

The UK government has published a sweeping set of immigration reforms under Statement of Changes HC 1333, introducing new rules that will affect students, graduates, workers, and employers. While many of these changes were previewed in the earlier immigration white paper, the final document—spanning 111 pages—includes several unexpected additions. Here’s a breakdown of the most significant updates and what they mean for prospective migrants and stakeholders. Read more from Nick Bennett, Associate Solicitor, Employment and Business Immigration Department, Cleaver Fulton Rankin.

The Importance of Emotional Intelligence in the Workplace

In today’s workplace, technical skills alone are no longer enough to drive sustainable success. Emotional Intelligence (EI), the ability to understand and manage emotions, both one's own and others’, has emerged as a crucial leadership competency. For business leaders and senior executives, fostering an emotionally intelligent workplace can lead to improved collaboration, innovation, and overall organisational resilience. Ryan Calvert, Head of HR, Sales, Marketing and Legal Recruitment at MCS Group share his insights here.

Last week’s KPMG Suggests CEOs get AI – so why isn’t this getting to HR?

Last week KPMG 2025 published their annual Global CEO Outlook report and its findings surprised a good many in HR.

Catch up here.

HR Interview Series: Jacqueline Canning, Associate Director Culture & Talent at Andras House Hotels

We interview some leading figures in HR to find out about their role, the challenges they face, what winds them up in business and how they wind down... Catch up on the latest one here.

Back to Top

Very few HR Teams are confident their practices would stand up in tribunal

Many HR professionals feel uncertain about their organisation’s legal readiness at a time when businesses are preparing for vast reforms to dismissal procedures, trade union activity, and employee consultation. Read more.

Working when the clocks go back: how to handle the extra hour

The clocks go back one hour at 2:00am on Sunday 26 October 2025. But what does this mean for employers with staff working a night shift? Must they be paid for working an extra hour? Or can they go home when they’ve worked their usual number of hours, even though the clock says they have an hour to go? More here.

The two words you need to help you push back at work

Saying "no" to your boss can feel daunting - we all want to impress, not disappoint. But unchecked ambition can blur work-life boundaries, invading weekends and family time. Experts say setting clear limits is key, and career coach Helen Tupper recommends using subtle language shifts to help reinforce them in this article from the BBC.

Gartner: 2026 CHRO Top Trends and Priorities

Gartner surveyed hundreds of CHROs across all major industries to uncover the latest HR trends. The findings focus on 4 main areas:

1.    Harness AI to revolutionize HR
2.    Shape work in the human-machine era.
3.    Mobilize leaders for growth in an uncertain world.
4.    Address culture atrophy to power performance.

You can download the report here. 

Back to Top

An Edinburgh engineer suffered years of "gaslighting" from her employer over her concerns about transgender colleagues using female toilets, an employment tribunal has heard. Maria Kelly is taking legal action against aerospace and defence manufacturer Leonardo UK and has lodged a complaint alleging harassment, direct and indirect discrimination. More.

A civil servant who asked a friend to warn Nicola Sturgeon about alleged “corruption” at a top quango has been awarded £6,250 after a tribunal found he was unfairly treated by the Scottish Government. More from the Herald.

A trusted worker stole more than £750,000 from her employers in just 14 months to fund her gambling addiction. Susanne Redhead was in the trusted position of account manager at Pure Panel Management when she began helping herself to the cash. More from the Chronicle Live. 

Back to Top

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

Provocative ad campaign blasts UK’s measly paternity leave

A confrontational new advertising campaign branding UK paternity leave a ‘motherf**ker’ has been launched on billboards in London and Edinburgh. Images of mums’ scars from giving birth by caesarean section aim to draw attention to the six weeks’ recovery advised for the procedure, in comparison with dads’ statutory right to two weeks’ paternity leave. Pregnant Then Screwed and The Dad Shift, the campaign groups behind the ads, revealed data showing a 35% increase in C-sections over the past 5 years, leaving 230,000 mums to recover alone last year, whilst also caring for a newborn. More from Personnel Today.

Back to Top

Employment Law at 11

📅 Friday 5th December 2025

🕒 11am to 11.45am

📍 Live online | Free to attend

Register here. 

Employment Law at 11 is taking a break in November, but will be LIVE and in-person at the Annual Review of Employment Law on 13th November 2025. Join Christine and Seamus in-person at the Crowne Plaza, Belfast, or from the comfort of your own home or office - the joys of a hybrid event! More details HERE.

Enjoy your weekend!

Legal Island

Back to Top