In Pursuit of Talent — Episode 4: Employment Law — What Every Employer Needs to Know Right Now

Episode four goes somewhere close to home.

Lorraine has been working with Cas Carrington for over 20 years. She has delivered employment law seminars for Lorraine's clients, taken calls at all hours, and been a constant presence through some genuinely difficult times — professionally and personally. So before they get into the law, Lorraine takes a moment to say thank you. And if you've ever had someone in your corner like that, you'll understand why.

Right now, employment law is moving faster than it has in a generation — and whether you employ two people or two hundred, the obligations coming your way are the same.

About the guest

Cas is a partner at KLC Employment Law, with nearly four decades in the field. She began her career in HR and industrial relations before moving into consultancy, where she discovered a genuine passion for employment law. She joined KLC, became a partner, and has spent the years since advising clients on everything from day-to-day workplace challenges to employment tribunal representation. She has also taught on the CIPD Advanced Certificate of Employment Law and runs the widely attended Law on Tour events twice a year. Her reputation is built on making a complex subject genuinely compelling — and on giving practical, pragmatic advice that actually helps people run their businesses.

What we cover in this episode

Why the Employment Rights Act 2025 is just the beginning. The Act itself is the primary piece of legislation — but it comes with a long tail of regulations, codes of practice and statutory instruments that are still being worked out through consultation. Cas explains why keeping up with it all is a challenge even for the experts, and why employers need to start paying attention now rather than waiting for the dust to settle.

Trade union rights — the knock on the door you might not be expecting. Even organisations that have never given trade unions a second thought should be sitting up. The changes to union access rights, recognition rules and balloting requirements mean that employers who have historically had no union presence may find that changes. Cas explains what's shifting and why it could affect sectors that have never considered this a live issue.

The qualifying period for unfair dismissal is changing. The reduction in the qualifying period to bring an unfair dismissal claim is, in Cas's view, one of the most significant changes coming down the track. Tribunal waiting times are already a concern — this is only going to add pressure to a system that is already creaking.

Zero and low hours contracts — what we know, and what we're still waiting for. The changes don't just cover zero hours. Low hours will be caught too, though the definition is still to be confirmed. There'll be a regularity test based on roughly a 12-week reference period, and eligible workers will have the right to be offered guaranteed hours. For agencies, the obligation falls to the end user. Seasonal exceptions exist, but the detail is still emerging. Cas's advice: start auditing your casual workforce now.

Links mentioned in this episode

Employment law update with Lorraine and Cas — 30th September at the Lion - https://www.pursuitgroup.co.uk/employment-law-seminar/

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Episode five is on its way.

In Pursuit of Talent — Episode 3: Employee Wellbeing — The Importance of Looking After Yourself and Its Connection to Work

Episode three takes a different turn — and an intentional one.

Lorraine has been a member of Holsm for six months. She's been on a journey with it, and she wanted to talk about it because it's real. In this episode she sits down with Holly, founder of Holsm, and Jemma, nutritionist, for one of the most honest conversations the podcast has had so far. Because the people leading teams, making hiring decisions and running businesses are still, at the end of the day, human beings — and human beings need more than a to-do list.

About the guests

Holly is the founder of Holsm, a strength, mindset and lifestyle coaching app and community. She began her career as a dementia care manager before retraining as a personal trainer, inspired by her own transformation. Holly created Holsm around the belief that consistency beats intensity every time — and that community is the missing piece most people never consider. Her Fundamentals First programme takes eight weeks and starts with just 12 minutes a day.

Jemma is the nutritionist behind Holsm's food and wellbeing content. She brings the science to the conversation in a way that actually makes sense — no jargon, no guilt, just practical insight into why so many of us are struggling despite trying to do the right things.

What we cover in this episode

Why most of us are running on empty — and what it's doing to us Burnout isn't just about being tired. Jemma explains what chronic stress actually does to the body — and why so many people are caught in a cycle they can't seem to break, no matter how hard they try.

Why your body treats being late for work like a sabre-toothed tiger The fight or flight response was designed for survival. The problem is, your nervous system can't tell the difference between a genuine threat and a difficult Monday morning. Jemma breaks down why this matters more than most of us realise — particularly when it comes to digestion, sleep, and energy.

How just 12 minutes a day can genuinely change everything Holly's Fundamentals Express programme is built around one simple truth: we all have 12 minutes. The question is what we do with them. Holly explains why short, consistent movement beats the all-or-nothing approach every time.

The power of community over willpower Willpower runs out. Community doesn't. Holly shares why she moved away from one-to-one coaching and built something bigger — and why the people who stick with Holsm longest are the ones who lean into the group rather than going it alone.

Progress over perfection You don't fall off the wagon. You step off it — and you can step back on whenever you like. This is the Holsm philosophy, and it's one of the most refreshing things you'll hear in a world full of all-or-nothing fitness culture.

Links mentioned in this episode

• Holsm website: www.weareholsm.com
• Holsm free 5-day reset + midlife survival guide: https://hollyfivian.aweb.page/strong-summer-reset#

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Episode four is already in the works. We'll see you there.

Episode Introduction

In Episode 2 of In Pursuit of Talent, host Lorraine sits down with Neil Carberry — CEO of the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) and incoming CEO of the CIPD — for a conversation that is candid, thought-provoking, and genuinely optimistic about the future of HR and work. If you care about where the people profession is heading, this one is essential listening.

What We Cover

The future of work — why AI and demographic change don’t spell the end of jobs, but do demand a fundamental rethink of how we create and fill them

The Luddite lesson — what history tells us about navigating big technological shifts — and why the real question isn’t whether work survives, but what kind of work we’re creating

Hybrid working, done properly — why the debate has been framed all wrong, and what employers really need to understand about productivity, connection, and mental health

AI: signal vs. noise — the dotcom bubble parallel, why no one truly knows where AI lands in 20 years, and how HR professionals can position themselves on the right side of that uncertainty

People as a strategic asset — why British business has a talent problem rooted in treating people like a cost to be squeezed rather than a capability to be grown

The paper clips problem — why HR must reclaim its seat at the table as a driver of performance and productivity, not compliance or social agenda

Neil’s move to the CIPD — what’s next for the profession, why this is a pivotal moment, and why an ex-recruiter leading the CIPD is exactly what the industry needs

Standout Quotes

“Be the signal amongst the noise.”— Neil Carberry

“Why do you procure people like paper clips?”— Neil Carberry

“HR is about performance and productivity.”— Neil Carberry

About Neil Carberry

Neil Carberry is the outgoing CEO of the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC), the professional body for the UK recruitment industry, where he has served for over eight years. A first-degree historian and experienced economist, Neil brings a sharp, evidence-based perspective to the future of work, labour markets, and the role of HR in driving business performance. In September, he takes on the role of CEO at the CIPD — the professional body for HR and people development — where he plans to champion the profession at a pivotal moment in its evolution.

Find out more at rec.uk.com and cipd.org

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