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09 October 2026 / Ian Smith
Issue: 8180 / Categories: Features , Employment
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Employment law brief: 9 October 2026

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© Getty images
Equal pay, reasonable adjustments & tortious liabilities: Ian Smith considers recent cases putting the cat among the legal pigeons
  • Market forces may justify unequal pay where recruitment and retention needs establish a legitimate, proportionate material factor defence.
  • Individuals may be liable for failures to make reasonable adjustments; unfair dismissal decisions must identify the actual reason before assessing its reasonableness.
  • TUPE transfers tortious liabilities owed to employees, but does not transfer liability for injuries caused to third parties.

The last month saw the fifth commencement order for the Employment Rights Act 2025, bringing into force the amendments to the existing legislation to raise the time limit for tribunal proceedings from three months to six. These provisions crop up all over the legislation and so the amendments were numerous.

The other news here was that the government put back the commencement of the new obligation on employers to give staff notice of their right to join unions from October to January next year. As a result, they have reissued their

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

DAC Beachcroft—Clare Dewar

DAC Beachcroft—Clare Dewar

DAC Beachcroft strengthens Scottish real estate capabilitywith partner appointment

Womble Bond Dickinson—Brendan Ryan

Womble Bond Dickinson—Brendan Ryan

Womble Bond Dickinson appoints Brendan Ryan as partner in Public Law Projects team

Parklane Plowden Chambers—five appointments

Parklane Plowden Chambers—five appointments

Parklane Plowden Chambers welcomes five new barristers

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Choosing the wrong expert can cost a clinical negligence claimant more than their case
Judges risk weakening their own independence by staying silent over government reforms, a leading public lawyer argues
A discount on damages does not automatically mean an equivalent haircut for legal costs in military deafness claims
Police powers targeting concealed identities at protests come with procedural conditions that could determine whether prosecutions succeed
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