The Employment Law Podcast

The Employment Law Podcast

Welcome to The Employment Law Podcast, brought to you by Constantine Law and hosted by John Hayes. In each bite-sized episode, we'll cover the latest developments in UK employment law and their impact on lawyers, employers, and employees. Get expert analysis, practical advice, and insightful commentary to stay informed and ahead in the evolving world of employment law. 

  1. Ep 13 - We can work it out #3: Preparing for the biggest change in UK Employment Law

    JAN 28

    Ep 13 - We can work it out #3: Preparing for the biggest change in UK Employment Law

    The Employment Rights Act has now received Royal Assent and will bring the most radical changes to UK employment law in decades. In this episode of our podcast's We can work it out series, John Patrick Hayes and Amanda Rajkumar explain what the Employment Rights Act means for UK employers in practice—not just in theory. They break down the key changes, including:  The reduction of the unfair dismissal qualifying period to six monthsThe removal of the compensation cap for unfair dismissalWhy these reforms will fundamentally change how employers recruit, manage performance, and make dismissal decisions.The discussion explores why these changes are already a “now issue” for employers hiring in 2025 and 2026, how probation periods and onboarding processes will need to change, and why poor performance management is about to become a serious balance-sheet risk—particularly for higher-paid roles. The episode also looks at the likely impact on unfair dismissal claims, discrimination claims, senior hires, and settlement negotiations. John and Amanda also examine wider reforms under the Act, including restrictions on fire and rehire, changes to zero-hours contracts, predictable working patterns, and the implications for agency workers, hospitality, care, logistics, and other flexible labour markets. Drawing on international experience, they compare the UK’s position with the US and Europe and explain why leadership quality and workforce planning will matter more than ever. This episode is essential listening for employers, HR leaders, and business owners who want to understand what the Employment Rights Act will really change—and how to prepare before the new rules take effect. Find out more about Constantine Law.

    33 min
  2. Ep 12 - We can work it out #2: Appraisals - Myth, mess, or must-have?

    12/19/2025

    Ep 12 - We can work it out #2: Appraisals - Myth, mess, or must-have?

    Annual appraisals are one of the most stressful workplace rituals – but are they broken beyond repair, or more important than ever? In this episode, Constantine Law's John Hayes is joined by HR leader and powerhouse Amanda Rajkumar to unpack why performance appraisals trigger so much anxiety, how outdated processes undermine trust, and what organisations should be doing differently as we head into 2026. Drawing on experience from multinational organisations and UK SMEs, they explore the shift from once-a-year judgement to continuous feedback, the impact of bias and recency effects, and why poorly trained managers are often the weak link in performance management. The conversation also looks ahead to upcoming changes in UK employment law, including the growing importance of documented performance conversations, fair appraisals, and consistent feedback in managing risk around dismissals, bonuses, and promotions. Whether you’re a business owner, HR professional, manager, or employee, this episode offers practical insight into building appraisal systems that are simpler, fairer, legally robust, and actually improve performance. Topics covered: • Why appraisals create dread for managers and employees • Annual reviews vs continuous feedback • How bias creeps into performance ratings • Making appraisals shorter, clearer, and more effective • 360 feedback: what works and what doesn’t • Appraisals, performance management, and UK employment law in 2026 Find out more about Constantine Law.

    30 min

About

Welcome to The Employment Law Podcast, brought to you by Constantine Law and hosted by John Hayes. In each bite-sized episode, we'll cover the latest developments in UK employment law and their impact on lawyers, employers, and employees. Get expert analysis, practical advice, and insightful commentary to stay informed and ahead in the evolving world of employment law.