What are the 2026 Changes to Employment Law - Fishers on the Case - EP 6

Welcome to Fishers on the Case, hosted by Amanda Payne, CEO of Fishers Solicitors. In this episode, Amanda is joined by Karen Robinson from KR4HR, an HR consultant and senior leadership coach with nearly 20 years of HR experience. Karen shares her career story, how she fell into HR, why she decided to set up her own limited company, and what life is like running a business from home (with two German shepherds keeping her busy). They then dive into one of the biggest topics for employers right now, the possible changes to employment law in 2026. Karen explains what is being discussed, including: Potential day one employment rights and what that could mean for employers Fair dismissal changes and how probation periods might work Possible updates to statutory sick pay Changes linked to trade union recognition Why businesses should be proactive now, not reactive later Karen also shares practical advice on what employers can tighten up today, from recruitment and interview processes to probation reviews, contracts, policies and training line managers for difficult conversations. If you employ people, manage a team, or run a business, this episode is packed with grounded insight and clear next steps.