Key employment law updates | April 2025

Welcome to our monthly update, where we share upcoming changes to employment law.

New Vento bands

The latest annual update for awards for injury to feelings in discrimination and detriment cases has been announced. The presidential guidance can be found here.

Awards for claims presented on or after 6 April 2025 shall now be as follows:

• a lower band of £1,200 to £12,100 (less serious cases);

• a middle band of £12,100 to £36,400 (cases that do not merit an award in the upper band); and

• an upper band of £36,400 to £60,700 (the most serious cases), with the most exceptional cases capable of exceeding £60,700.

Higher compensation limits mean that employers may face more substantial financial liabilities in discrimination and whistleblowing claims.

EHRC Interim Update

Following the UK Supreme Court judgment in For Women Scotland v The Scottish Ministers regarding the meaning of "sex" and "woman" under the Equality Act 2010 (EA 2010), the Equality and Human Rights Commission has published an interim update on the practical implications of the judgment, which can be found here. For further detail on the case and its implications, please see our article here.

New Practice Directions on Presentation of Claims

From 21 May 2025, the Employment Tribunal User Groups for England, Wales & Scotland have approved Practice Directions on the Presentation of Claims:

• The new Practice Directions will remove the option of filing ET3 responses by email save in exceptional and evidenced circumstances, where there is a fault with the online system; and
  
• Claim forms will now, in the same circumstances as above, be accepted if filed by email to the same dedicated email address.

These changes to submission requirements are part of the drive to direct as much work as possible through the new digital portals: ‘MyHMCTS’ for represented respondents and ‘Citizen’ for unrepresented parties.

The Practice Direction on the Presentation of Claims, Responses and Statutory Appeals is available here for England & Wales, and here for Scotland. 

Available training for managers

Given the significant forthcoming changes brought about by the Employment Rights Bill, there is no better time to upskill your managers via our transformational management development programmes to reduce risk, increase engagement, and enhance motivation. Our programmes involve utilising unique accelerated learning techniques that will boost people management skills for years to come, suitable for supervisors up to board level. Furthermore, our seamless programmes link with your policies and templates to bring about impactful change (with practical templates to bring your policies to life, if required). We link below further information on six of our flagship programmes:

Details of our current programmes are as follows:

• 21^st Century: An innovative four-day management development programme designed to equip managers with essential skills, knowledge, and behaviours to effectively manage performance and improve workplace culture. 

• Gender Diversity: We know that managers and employees lack confidence talking about gender diversity and managing a diverse workforce. That is why we've created this bespoke training programme to help you get ahead and shape your culture.

• Inclusive Leadership: We may not notice our unconscious biases, but they still influence our actions and beliefs. For leaders, it is crucial to recognise those biases and lead inclusively which is the focus of our one-day Inclusive Leadership programme.

• Prevention of Sexual Harassment: With a new duty to take proactive steps to prevent sexual harassment (such as training), it is more important than ever to act. This programme equips your workforce with the tools needed to identify and prevent workplace sexual harassment.

• Upskill Managers to Manage: We can support you to navigate the challenges of integrating teams effectively to maximise post-integration success, emphasising the need for strong management, strategic alignment, and collaboration to overcome cultural differences and mitigate risks in an increasingly competitive market.

• Improve Employee Heath & Resilience: Improving the health and wellbeing of your people is a key requirement to driving a successful business. By educating employees on health and wellbeing strategies, we can help you gain a competitive edge as your people improve their energy, productivity and overall wellbeing. Our wellbeing programmes deliver educational, fun and interactive sessions that are empowering and revealing.

Please contact Joanne Boyle if you would like to discuss further how we can support your organisation.