HR in 5: Quick, Sharp, Essential ⚡

1. Annual Review of Employment Law is flying — grab your ticket before they’re gone! 🎟️
2. GB Employment Rights Bill heads into the “Ping Pong” stage 🏓
3. The AI job cuts are here… or are they? 🤖
4. Home Office arrests 200+ people for “working illegally” in NI 🚨
5. New blog: How should employers handle personality clashes at work? 💥

In other news… our Chairman, Barry Phillips, turned 60 and thought, “Why not celebrate by doing an Ironman?” That’s a 3.8km swim, 180km cycle, and a full marathon — all before most of us have finished our second coffee. He’s putting himself through this madness to raise funds for Dementia NI, a cause close to many hearts here. So if you’d like to support, you can donate here.

**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 - Culture Shifts to Recruit & Retain: Inspiring Stories from NI Employers
2. Case Law Reviews
3. AI and Employment Law
4. Health unions reject renewed pay offer and move towards strike ballot
5. Home Office arrests more than 200 people for 'working illegally' in NI
6. Northern Ireland Business Register and Employment Survey Statistics 2023
7. Government issues fresh warning to four-day week council
8. Just in Case You Missed It...
9. HR Developments
10. Employment News in the Media
11. GB Developments
12. Friends of Legal Island
13. Free Webinars This Month

Culture Shifts to Recruit & Retain: Inspiring Stories from NI Employers

Join Denise Collins of Forebee Consulting for a lively chat with two Northern Irish employers who are shaking up how they attract, support, and keep their people.

Kerri Smyth from family-run business Kukoon will share how bringing the Myers-Briggs colour model into the business has helped build happier, more balanced teams. Then, Laura Lavery from PA Consulting will talk about the small but powerful changes that make a workplace genuinely inclusive and fair for everyone.

Expect real stories, practical ideas, and plenty of inspiration to take back to your own organisation.

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.

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Gurney v Randall [2025] EAT 154

Summary Description: 

Wasted costs application dismissed. Any failure to advise a client regarding prospects of success would have to be akin to an abuse of process for wasted costs to succeed.

Claimant:  

M Randall

Respondent/Appellant: 

B Gurney

Practical Guidance for Employers:

Cases relating to representative conduct and wasted costs can be intriguing as it looks into the role of the representatives rather than the relationship between the employer and employee.  In this case, the arguments being made largely surrounded on an age discrimination claim which was not particularised and not backed up fully by the representative. That being said, it did not meet the threshold for being improper conduct or for the advice relating to prospects of success of the claim as a whole as meeting the threshold of being an abuse of process.

Read the Review in full: Gurney v Randall [2025]

Reynolds v Abel Estate Agent Ltd [2025] EWCA Civ 1357

Summary Description: 

Failure to engage in early conciliation means the Tribunal has no jurisdiction to hear the claim.

Claimant: 

Elizabeth Reynolds

Respondent: 

Abel Estate Agent Ltd & Others

Practical Guidance for Employers:

The Court of Appeal has provided guidance on the importance and necessity of early conciliation for a claim to continue. The same wording is in Section 20A of the Industrial Tribunals (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 in Northern Ireland. The importance is that early conciliation must be done before claim can be considered by the Tribunal. This is based upon Parliament ensuring that that opportunity is given.

Read the Review in full: Reynolds v Abel Estate Agent Ltd [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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Guidance on the use of AI tools to prepare material for submission to the WRC

NB: While this has been produced by the Workplace Relations Commission in ROI, it serves as an extremely useful document for anyone navigating the use of AI in any jurisdiction.

The purpose of this document is to provide guidance to all parties who come before the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) who may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools to prepare written submissions or documents for use as evidence in their case. Read in full.

Character.AI bans users under 18 after being sued over child’s suicide

The chatbot company Character.AI will ban users 18 and under from conversing with its virtual companions beginning in late November after months of legal scrutiny. The announced change comes after the company, which enables its users to create characters with which they can have open-ended conversations, faced tough questions over how these AI companions can affect teen and general mental health, including a lawsuit over a child’s suicide and a proposed bill that would ban minors from conversing with AI companions. More from The Guardian.

AI upskilling through apprenticeships

As Large Language Models (LLM) like ChatGPT are changing the way we do business, Dale Walker, Director of Education at Apprentify, argues the case for making apprenticeships a key pillar to equip your business for an AI centric future. Faced with what they perceive as a threat to the status quo, human beings will often revert to the ‘freeze’ instinct. The idea of AI is uncomfortable; it shakes up entrenched beliefs about how your business delivers value. But previous revolutions have taught us that doing nothing is not an option. Think back to the Covid pandemic, if companies had not moved to remote or hybrid working, they would have failed; bricks and mortar retailers that didn’t offer an online channel would have gone bust. Read full analysis by HR Director.

The AI job cuts are here - or are they?

Amazon's move this week to slash thousands of corporate jobs fed into a longstanding anxiety: that Artificial Intelligence is starting to replace workers. The tech giant joined a growing list of companies in the US that have pointed to AI technology as a reason behind layoffs. But some question whether AI is fully to blame - and have voiced scepticism that recent high-profile layoffs are a telling sign of the technology's effect on employment. Chegg, the online education firm, cited the "new realities" of AI as it announced a 45% reduction in workforce on Monday. When Salesforce cut 4,000 customer service roles last month, its chief executive said AI agents were doing the work. Read the full story in BBC News.

AI for HR Weekly Podcast – with Barry Phillips

This week's episode: Latest Report on AI adoption Figures in the Workplace

This week Barry Phillips looks at the latest AI adoption figures in the US and draws conclusions for us here in Ireland and the UK.

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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Northern Ireland's health staff unions have rejected a renewed pay offer and say they will proceed with plans to ballot for industrial action. Union leaders met on Thursday to discuss what had been put on the table by the Department of Health (DoH), with some describing the proposed settlement as "unacceptable". BBC News NI understands one of a number of options the department had put to unions was a two-year award deal covering 2025-26 and 2026-27.
BBC has more.

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More than 200 arrests of people suspected of working illegally have been made in Northern Ireland over the past year, the Home Office has said. The arrests were made by Immigration Enforcement between October 2024 and September 2025. It marks a 54% increase on the year before. The Home Office said it was part of the "largest crackdown on illegal workers since records began" after an uplift of immigration raids on businesses across the UK. It confirmed that "more than 8,000 illegal migrants" were detained across the UK within the past 12 months. BBC has more.  

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The latest Northern Ireland Business Register and Employment Survey (BRES) statistics were released today by Northern Ireland Statistics & Research Agency (NISRA). 

Key points are:

• Employee jobs increased by 1.3% over the year to September 2023
• Employee jobs declined in Construction
• Employee jobs increased in most District Council Areas in Northern Ireland

More info here.  

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The government could clamp down on local councils introducing four-day working week policies after local government secretary wrote to South Cambridgeshire District Council warning it that the arrangement has damaged performance. South Cambridgeshire’s policy on four-day working has come under scrutiny for a number of years after it began a controversial trial of the arrangement in 2023. It was the first local authority in the country to move to a four-day week permanently. More here. 

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Balancing Innovation and Fairness in AI Recruitment: How do I Handle it?

One area where AI usage is becoming increasingly popular is recruitment and selection process. Statistics confirm that among 4,000 employers surveyed worldwide, AI use in hiring had risen from 58% in 2024 to 72% in 2025 – a significant hike, which is expected to rise year on year. AI can speed up the recruitment process by utilising tools that scan CVs, shortlist candidates and even analyse body-language or virtually assess job applicants. The potential uses can open up complex employment law concerns. Read more from Emma Doherty, Associate in the Employment team at Tughans LLP.

Q&A: How can employers deal with personality clashes within the business?

Madison Bowyer, Associate in the Employment Law Group of Arthur Cox NI deals with this month's question: How can employers deal with personality clashes within the business? At some point an employer may face a situation whereby there is a personality clash between employees. For example, some employees may openly criticise management decisions or have a negative attitude which could affect team morale. It is important that an employer manages these situations carefully. Read her full piece on our Hub here.

Q&A: Is there a time limit for reporting an underpayment of national minimum wage to HMRC?

If a worker realises they’ve been underpaid the national minimum wage, how long do they have to raise it with HMRC - and what are the risks for employers if they don’t act quickly? More from Madison Bowyer in this month's Q&A.

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Do flexible workspaces encourage more engagement?

A new report highlights the barriers part-time employees face and how challenges can be overcome. International Workplace Group (IWG), a company that specialises in offering flexible workplace solutions, has released a survey exploring the potential of hybrid working arrangements as a means of boosting productivity and encouraging skilled people to return to the workforce. The survey was conducted by Censuswide and included data from 2,000 globally dispersed current and former part-time employees. More from Silicon Republic.

Employers Massively overestimate appreciation of employee benefits

Just over half (52%) of employees say they appreciate and value their employee benefits. However, 92% of employers believe that staff either ‘very much’ (49%) or ‘somewhat’ (43%) appreciate the benefits that they provide – 40 percentage points more than the employee responses. HR Director has the full story.

Ghosting employers at Halloween and other likely tales …

This week’s Personnel Today HR round-up takes a playful look at the lighter side of working life. From the rise of “performative matcha men” – managers more focused on looking mindful than offering genuine support – to warnings about the “Greenwich Mean Time slump” as clocks go back, there’s plenty to keep workplaces entertained. And with Halloween here, “ghosting” is back in the spotlight, as more employers than candidates vanish without a trace after interviews. A timely reminder, perhaps, to keep communication (and social media profiles) polished and to enjoy that extra hour in bed responsibly. More from Personnel Today here.

HR burnout is rising, employee engagement declining

Future of Work Report 2026*, revealing that HR professionals are experiencing a wellbeing crisis, employee engagement has nosedived, and AI adoption in HR remains untapped. The Report examines the current and changing roles, priorities and challenges of U.K. HR professionals as they adapt to the ever-evolving world of work. Responses were gathered from 367 HR professionals and senior executives across a range of U.K. industry. “It’s clear that HR professionals are reaching breaking point”, says Steven Frost, CEO and founder of employee engagement specialist, WorkBuzz. “The Report reveals that mounting workloads and shrinking resources are placing significant strain on HR teams, with the effects felt across U.K. businesses.” Read more from HR Director.

UK unemployment rate is at an all-time high – what this means to recruitment

Think of recruitment like surfing. In a tight market, the waves are huge and thrilling but nearly impossible to catch without drowning. In a slack market, the waves are smaller, slower, and easier to ride. The smart surfer catches the wave others ignore and rides it further. Recruiters who wait for perfect conditions end up sitting on their boards, watching others glide past. HR Director has more.

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Wetherspoons has been ordered to pay an autistic pub worker more than £25,000 after he was found to have been "persecuted" by his managers' response to him using his staff discount to pay for a family meal. More from the Mirror.

A lawyer in England and Wales has been allowed by the Court of Appeal to pursue a harassment claim against a firm at which he formerly worked as a paralegal. Jackson Yamba, described in the judgment as a 'regulated (sic) foreign lawyer', was employed by BW Legal Services Ltd, a debt recovery firm instructed by parking companies. Yamba alleged that since CLS’s inception, BW had ‘used every opportunity to bully him and to see him out of business’. BW denied the allegation. Yamba brought proceedings against BW over alleged malicious prosecution in civil proceedings, the tort of abuse of process, and harassment. Law Gazette has the full story.

Wetherspoons has been ordered to pay an autistic pub worker more than £25,000 after he was found to have been "persecuted" by his managers' response to him using his staff discount to pay for a family meal. He was accused of "dishonesty" in the course of his duties and "abuse" of the Wetherspoons employee discount policy and disciplined by his bosses, leaving him feeling "persecuted and let down". The Mirror has more.

In Sweden 70 car mechanics are continuing to take on one of the world's richest companies – Tesla. The strike at the US carmaker's 10 Swedish service centres has now reached its second anniversary, and there is little prospect of a resolution. The strike concerns an issue that goes to the heart of Swedish industrial culture - the right of trade unions to negotiate pay and conditions on behalf of their members. This concept of collective agreement has underpinned industrial relations in Sweden for nearly a century. BBC has the full story.

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

Acas announces Joanna Nunn as chief conciliator

The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas) has announced that Joanna Nunn will become its new chief conciliator, replacing Marina Glasgow. An experienced mediator and conciliator, Nunn has previously held the role of assistant chief conciliator/collective dispute manager and has worked at Acas since 2006. She will officially take up the position of chief conciliator on 3 November. More.

Beyond the Employment Rights Bill - unpacking upcoming trade union and industrial action reforms

The UK Employment Rights Bill (the ERB) has now reached the final parliamentary stages and is expected to receive Royal Assent this month, with certain measures coming into effect at Royal Assent or soon afterwards. In this blog post, Freshfields outline some key changes affecting trade unions and industrial action. Read their full analysis here.

Employment Rights Bill - Ping Pong time

Labour's workers' rights legislation has been plunged into a parliamentary "ping pong" battle after a series of government defeats in the House of Lords. Peers inflicted defeats on zero-hours contracts, unfair dismissal claims from day one, industrial action ballot thresholds and union members paying a political levy. The flagship Employment Rights Bill, championed by Angela Rayner until she resigned as deputy prime minister, now goes back to the Commons yet again. Although the bill is now close to reaching the statute book, senior Tories and business leaders have fought an 11th-hour rearguard action in a bid to derail it. More from Sky News here.

And here's Personnel Today's take:

Employment Rights Bill stumbles at final hurdle

The Employment Rights Bill will now enter a ‘ping pong’ battle after a number of amendments were rejected by the House of Lords. The Bill had reached one of the final stages in its path to reaching Royal Assent – the consideration of amendments – but must now return to the House of Commons until agreements on these measures can be reached. More.

Consultation launched on extending right to work checks to gig economy and zero-hours workers

NB: as immigration is not a devolved matter it is likely that this will impact NI.

After announcing a record number of arrests for illegal working, the Home Office today launched a consultation on expanding the range of employers and businesses required by law to carry out checks on workers to prevent illegal working. Catch up. 

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Dementia Fundraiser 

This year, our Chairman and founder, Barry Phillips, achieved his 60th orbit around the sun. To mark the occasion (and maybe prove he’s still got it), he decided to take on an Ironman — that’s a 3.8km swim, a 180km cycle, and a full marathon run. All in one day. Madness? Probably.

Over the years at Legal Island, Barry’s seen many of us juggling work while caring for loved ones affected by dementia. It’s something that’s touched a lot of people here, and it’s left a lasting impression on him.
So, in honour of those families — and everyone living with dementia — Barry’s raising funds for Dementia NI. If this cause means something to you too, and you’d like to chip in, even a small donation would make a real difference. You’ll find the link below and a big thank you in advance.

Donate here.

LRA Conference: Is It All About The Money?

When it comes to having a good job, is there anything more important than pay?  And how can we address cost of living issues whilst not ignoring the cost of doing business in Northern Ireland? These are some of the questions posed to an international audience at the Labour Relations Agency’s ‘Let’s Talk About Pay’ conference last week. Employment Relations Agencies from New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, UK and Ireland came together with local stakeholders to discuss the importance of pay to a thriving Northern Ireland economy.  They shared useful examples and experiences from their countries when it comes to shaping pay policy. Read more from LRA here.

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Employment Law at 11 is taking a break in November and December, 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

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