Understanding the new trade union access rights, employer responsibilities and the financial risks of getting it wrong.
Overview
The Employment Rights Act 2025 introduces a new statutory framework for trade union access, with significant implications for employers, including smaller businesses that have never previously dealt with a trade union.
An access request triggers statutory obligations, strict timescales and a formal negotiation process. Not complying can lead to regulatory intervention, enforcement proceedings and potentially substantial financial penalties.
Understanding the new framework is essential, not only to manage legal and financial risk, but also to ensure that access arrangements are workable for your business.
Join EML, in partnership with Industrial Relations specialist Cilinnie Ngo-Pondi of Good Work Lab, for this FREE webinar. Cilinnie will take you through the process of receiving, assessing, responding to and negotiating a trade union access request, drawing on extensive experience of trade union engagement and collective negotiations.
What We Will Cover
This is the first in a mini-series of webinars designed to help employers understand and navigate significant changes to the trade union framework, and will cover:
- What the new statutory trade union access rights means for your business
- Which businesses are covered and what types of workplace and digital access trade unions can request
- The difference between trade union access and formal trade union recognition
- What employers should do when a formal access request arrives
- Understanding the statutory response deadlines, negotiation process and the role of the Central Arbitration Committee (CAC)
- Assessing practical considerations, including operational disruption, confidentiality, privacy, security and workplace arrangements
- Negotiating access terms and understanding what should be included in an access agreement
- Implementing and managing an agreement once it has been reached
- The consequences of getting it wrong: CAC enforcement, potential financial penalties, compliance costs and reputational damage
- Common pitfalls, how to avoid them and when specialist support may be needed
Who Should Attend
The webinar is a great opportunity for business owners, managing directors, managers and HR professionals in small or medium-sized organisations that have little experience of trade union engagement or are preparing for the new access arrangements.
Key Takeaways
If a trade union submitted a formal request for access to your workplace, would you know how to respond, what your obligations are, or what could happen if you get it wrong?
This webinar will provide delegates with a clearer understanding of their obligations under the new trade union access framework, the potential financial and legal consequences of non-compliance, and how to respond to access requests, negotiate workable agreements and protect your business.
There will be plenty of opportunity to submit questions to our expert panel during the session. If we don’t have time to answer every question live, we will make sure there is an opportunity to follow up afterwards.
Visit Eventbrite to reserve your FREE place today!
