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Are you ready to negotiate with a union?
Union recognition rules have changed from April 2026, affecting many small and medium sized employers.

Jen Marsden-Lambert
Apr 161 min read


SSP Changes: what if someone is sick when new rules take effect?
The UK government's new sick pay rules are soon to take effect. But what happens to people already off sick or with linked periods of absence from the last few months?

Jen Marsden-Lambert
Mar 301 min read


2026 Employment Law Updates: What You Need to Know
As we head into April, employment law in the UK is changing faster than ever. Staying ahead isn’t just about compliance - it’s about protecting your business, supporting your team and reducing risk. If you’re a retainer client with us, updates to your policies, contracts and handbooks are already part of your package. We make sure you’re ready for changes before they take effect, so you can focus on running your business. Here’s what’s coming up: Changes from January to March

Heather McKinlay
Mar 262 min read


Key Updates for the 2025/2026 Tax Year
By Heather McKinlay and Jennifer Marsden-Lambert Second Chapter is here to keep you up to date with the most important payroll updates...

Heather McKinlay
Mar 19, 20254 min read


Your new duties: A MUST-READ GUIDE FOR EMPLOYERS
Over the last few weeks we have been Preparing for the Worker Protection Act 2023, which will impact workplace regulations and creates...

Jen Marsden-Lambert
Oct 25, 20243 min read


The Labour Party's Proposed Changes to Employment
By Laura Davies and Jennifer Marsden-Lambert For the first time in over a decade the UK has a Labour government. Now their position in...

Laura Davies
Jul 17, 20246 min read


New Starters here at Second Chapter!
By Heather McKinlay We are all very excited to announce some major news here at Second Chapter HQ, as our business is expanding so too is...

Heather McKinlay
Jun 6, 20242 min read


Employment Law Changes in 2024
By Faye Lewis This year is proving to be particularly busy with employment law changes. To help you summarise, we have created this...

Faye Lewis
Mar 27, 20244 min read


UPDATED Guess the number of sweets in the jar for Comic Relief!
Well done to Tim S with a winning guess of 80! There were in fact...82 sweets in the jar! Your sweets will be winging their way to you...

Heather McKinlay
Mar 13, 20241 min read


2024 Changes to Holiday Entitlement and Pay Calculations
By Faye Lewis Entering this new year, we're seeing big changes in how holiday entitlements and pay are handled at work. The government...

Faye Lewis
Jan 10, 20243 min read


Predictable Working Patterns - the ACAS Draft Code of Practice
By Heather McKinlay The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) has recently launched a consultation on a draft Code of...

Heather McKinlay
Nov 21, 20233 min read


UPDATED Second Chapter Online Quiz in aid of Children in Need - Thursday 16th November 2023
By Heather McKinlay UPDATE: A huge thank you to all our friends, family and clients who donated and took part in our quiz last night in...

Heather McKinlay
Nov 8, 20232 min read


Managing Seasonal Viruses in the Workplace
By Faye Lewis The Government is rolling out Covid and flu vaccinations a month earlier than planned this year, and as flu season...

Faye Lewis
Oct 10, 20232 min read


My view on HR, and why I love it
By Faye Lewis Coming from an events management background slowly taught me that I loved two distinct parts of the sector, organisation...

Faye Lewis
Aug 9, 20232 min read


Changes to Flexible Working 2023
By Jennifer Marsden-Lambert What does flexible working mean? Flexible working is simply a way of working that suits an employee’s needs,...

Jen Marsden-Lambert
Jul 24, 20233 min read


The Neonatal Care (Leave and Pay) Bill: Supporting the Well-being of New Families
By Heather McKinlay SNP MP Stuart McDonald, along with extensive support from the charity Bliss, saw his Neonatal Care (Leave and Pay)...

Heather McKinlay
May 30, 20233 min read


UK Employment Increases April 2023 - Minimum Wage and other changes
From April 2023, there are a number of changes to statutory payments in the UK. In particular, we would encourage employers to check they...

Jen Marsden-Lambert
Mar 20, 20232 min read


Ongoing Strike Action - How best to manage unexpected leave?
By Heather McKinlay This month has seen the UK's biggest day of industrial action in over a decade as teachers, university staff, train...

Heather McKinlay
Feb 28, 20233 min read


Employment Law Update: Crack Down on 'Unscrupulous' Employers
By Jennifer Marsden-Lambert Following a number of high profile cases, where companies such P&O Ferries and Tesco hit the news, the...

Jen Marsden-Lambert
Jan 25, 20232 min read


Business Continuity and Planned Power Outages
We have heard that some insurers have been contacting their business customers to warn of planned power outages in the UK this winter. It...

Jen Marsden-Lambert
Dec 8, 20223 min read
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