April 2026 brought some of the biggest employment law changes in years. Statutory Sick Pay now starts from day one. Holiday pay records need to be kept for six years. A new government body, the Fair Work Agency, is now watching whether employers have the basics in place. And there's more on the way in October, including longer employment tribunal time limits and stricter sexual harassment duties.

In this session, our speakers will break down the changes that matter most, highlight the areas where you might have gaps, and give you a clear picture of what "good enough" looks like.

You'll leave with practical next steps you can act on straight away, plus the chance to get your specific questions answered in a live Q&A.

What you'll take away from this webinar

A clear, jargon-free breakdown of the April 2026 employment law changes and what they mean in practice.
Expert insight into the Fair Work Agency, what it can do and what it’s looking for.
A practical preview of the October 2026 changes, so you can get ahead of them now.
Actionable steps you can take straight away to get (and stay) compliant.
A live Q&A with employment law experts to get your specific questions answered.

What we'll cover

What changed in April and what you need to do

In April 2026, we saw changes to national minimum wage, paternity leave, whistleblowing protections and more. We'll focus on the changes that carry the most everyday risk for small-to-medium sized businesses and where you might have gaps.

The Fair Work Agency, and what it means for you

We'll explain what the Fair Work Agency is focused on, why it matters more for growing businesses, and what 'good enough' actually looks like when it comes to sick pay, holiday pay, employment contracts and records.

What's coming in October and how to prepare

There’s more employment law changes approaching fast. We'll walk you through each of the upcoming October changes with practical steps you can take now to prepare.

Register your place now

Why this matters for small-to-medium businesses

When you're running a small or growing business, employment law changes can feel overwhelming, especially when they're landing this fast. Most compliance problems don't come from big, obvious mistakes. They come from the small, everyday stuff.

This webinar is designed to cut through the noise and give you exactly what you need to feel confident.

Who should join

This webinar is for business owners, HR managers, office managers and anyone responsible for keeping their business on the right side of employment law. Whether you've been keeping a close eye on the changes or this is the first you're hearing about them, you'll leave with a clear picture of what to do next.

Meet the speakers

Jemma Fairclough-Haynes CEO & Employment Law Specialist Orchard Employment Law

Jemma Fairclough-Haynes is an employment law expert, business leader and experienced speaker with more than a decade in business. She is the CEO and Founder of Orchard Employment Law, a multi-award-winning consultancy that supports SMEs, large organisations, charities, and public sector clients across the UK.

Jemma is a regular speaker at professional events, conferences and panels including FSB, IoD, Accountex and Tourism South East. She is known for delivering accessible, relevant talks on employment law, workplace culture, leadership, and the realities of running a business.

As South East Regional Chair for the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), Jemma advocates for the needs of business owners across the region and contributes to policy development nationally. She is also a former FSB Area Lead for Kent and a former radio co-host.

Her expert insights have been featured in Personnel Today, the BBC, Sky News, GB News, Times Radio and the Daily Mail. Jemma also sits on the boards of several organisations.

Juliet Irving Director of HR Operations Impact HR

Juliet is a Lead HR Consultant within Impact HR and brings over 19 years of comprehensive HR experience, gained across a variety of industries through HR consultancy which has given her a well rounded perspective on the challenges and opportunities facing organisations of all sizes. Juliet has also held in house HR roles within hospitality, manufacturing, professional services and the charity sector.

Juliet has extensive line management experience managing teams within the Consultancy environment. Juliet covers a very generalist scope of HR, providing advice, guidance and support to organisations on day to day people queries and employment relations cases, right through to strategic HR planning and culture.

With a pragmatic approach and attention to detail, Juliet especially enjoys researching the more obscure queries to help organisations navigate the intricacies of employment law. She likes to top up her knowledge by keeping abreast with recent case law to ensure the advice she provides is not only compliant with employment law but also aligned with best practice.

Juliet brings with her a BA(hons) degree in Business Studies, CIPD level 7 and ILM level 5 qualifications.

Outside of work Juliet is a keen swimmer in the pool and open water, even into the winter months!

Oli Moreton Senior Associate Littler Mendelson

As a Senior Associate at Littler Mendelson, Oli advises clients on a broad range of employment law issues. He specialises in the complex aspects of employment law application, including as part of high value litigation, general advisory work, managing multi-jurisdictional and restructuring projects, and dealing with the complex employment aspects of all types of transactions.

Oli focuses on finding creative, pragmatic and commercial solutions to the tricky problems which arise in the workplace.

He has previously been seconded to the in-house legal teams of two major Financial Services institutions and to the in-house legal team at Sky.

Oli is recognised as a key lawyer in the Legal 500 (2026) guide and is a member of the Employment Lawyers Association.

Host: Bharat Siyani VP People & Culture Breathe & ELMO Group UK

Bharat is Breathe's VP of People and Culture, and he's hosting today's session. He's spent his career building people-first cultures, and he understands the reality of managing HR when things are moving fast. Bharat has a keen understanding of the role people play in driving organisational success and is dedicated to building a culture of excellence, even through periods of accelerated growth and change.

Webinar FAQs

In this webinar, will you cover how these changes affect employment contracts and policies?

Yes. Several of the April and October changes have a direct impact on employment contracts and written policies, from paternity leave and trade union rights to whistleblowing and collective redundancy consultation. Our speakers will highlight the areas where your contracts and policies are most likely to need updating.
Is this event free?

Yes, this webinar is completely free to attend. There's no cost and no obligation. Just register and you'll receive everything you need to join the session, including a confirmation email with your personal link. It's part of Breathe's commitment to helping UK SMEs navigate employment legislation with confidence.
How do I join the event?

Once you register, you'll receive a confirmation email with all the details on how to join the session. You don't need to download any software or create an account.
Will the webinar be recorded?

Yes, we'll send the recording to everyone who registered, so you can watch it back or share it with a colleague. It's a useful resource to revisit as more employment legislation takes effect throughout 2026 and 2027, including how employers should handle agency workers and self-employed contractors.

What our customers say about our webinars

‘Provided great insight’

"The webinar was so well hosted and structured by Amy at Breathe. Jason and Helen provided a great insight into proposed changes, they explained everything clearly and concisely. They also signposted listeners to some really useful websites to find out more about these topics."

Sarah Dixon People Experience Assistant

'One of the best webinars I've ever attended’

“It was such a valuable 45 mins and one of the best webinars I’ve ever attended. I’m still buzzing from the really useful information and tips and information to the point of promoting it to anyone who will listen!”

Donna Cumberlidge Chief Officer

‘The speakers were excellent’

"First webinar I've watched with Breathe and it was fab, a great topic and the speakers were excellent. Loved the layout and interactive aspect of the webinar. Such a big topic, I hope we could do session 2 and carry on with the conversation!"

Gemma Burgess Practice Manager

Watch more webinars

UK employment law and Employment Rights Act 2025 FAQs

What employment law changes came into effect in April 2026?

April 2026 brought changes to statutory sick pay, holiday pay record-keeping, the national minimum wage, paternity leave, parental leave, whistleblowing protections for sexual harassment and collective redundancy rules. In this webinar, our speakers break down what each one means for your business in practice.
What is the Fair Work Agency?

The Fair Work Agency is a new UK government body that launched in April 2026. It has the power to inspect workplaces, request records and issue penalties. We'll explain what it focuses on and what it means for smaller businesses in the session.
What employment law changes are coming in October 2026?

October 2026 brings further changes, including stricter rules on fire and rehire, increased duties to prevent sexual harassment, longer employment tribunal time limits and updates to employment contracts. Our speakers will walk through each one with practical steps you can take now to prepare.
What is the Employment Rights Act 2025?

The Employment Rights Act 2025 became law on 18 December 2025. It introduces phased changes to UK employment legislation from 2026 to 2027, covering areas including statutory sick pay, holiday pay, paternity leave, parental leave, unfair dismissal, sexual harassment protections, collective redundancy and the establishment of the Fair Work Agency. The April 2026 and October 2026 changes covered in this webinar are part of this Act, and our speakers will explain what they mean for your business in practice.
How does the Employment Rights Act 2025 affect my business?

The Employment Rights Act 2025 is being rolled out in phases, with changes landing in April 2026, October 2026 and January 2027. Each phase introduces new employment rights and tightens how existing rules are enforced. In this webinar, we'll focus on the changes that carry the most everyday risk for small and growing businesses, and give you practical steps to prepare for what's coming next.

Employment law 2026: what changed in April & what to do next