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Articles by Kate Dodd
Spotlight on managing overlapping workplace investigations
Sarah Munro, Kate Dodd and Zoe Betts explain how employers can manage overlapping workplace investigations, from coordinating HR and health and safety processes to handling legal risks and external investigations involving regulators or the police. We're sorry, this video is not available in your location. Workplace investigations can become particularly difficult when the same incident triggers more than one investigation.
Spotlight on managing complex workplace investigations
Sarah Munro and Kate Dodd tell HRNews how employers can manage complex workplace investigations, from choosing the right investigator to conducting sensitive interviews fairly and effectively. We're sorry, this video is not available in your location. Workplace investigations are becoming more complex and more demanding for HR teams.
UK employers must ready themselves for new workplace harassment duties
From 30 October, the ERA will strengthen protection in two important ways. Employers must take all reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment, raising the existing standard, and they may face express liability where a third party harasses an employee in the course of employment, and they cannot show that they took all reasonable steps to prevent it.
Luxury brands brace for workforce shift as new UK employment regulations take hold
Luxury businesses are facing a significant shift in employment regulation as the UK’s Employment Rights Act is implemented across 2026 and 2027. The reforms represent the biggest overhaul of employment law in a generation and will affect everything from recruitment and flexible working to workplace culture, employee relations and legal risk.
Luxury brands brace for workforce shift as new UK employment regulations take hold
Luxury businesses are facing a significant shift in employment regulation as the UK’s Employment Rights Act is implemented across 2026 and 2027. The reforms represent the biggest overhaul of employment law in a generation and will affect everything from recruitment and flexible working to workplace culture, employee relations and legal risk.
Employment Rights Act reforms: practical steps employers should take now
While many of the reforms will not take effect immediately, employers should identify the changes most likely to have a significant operational impact and begin preparing now. Read more: what the Employment Rights Act means for your business In many cases, organisations that act early will be better placed to manage legal risk, avoid disruption and adapt workforce practices before the new requirements come into force.
UK employers weigh business case for workplace mediation
Workplace conflict costs UK employers an estimated £28.5 billion a year. Against that backdrop, Acas has issued a warning that many organisations lack the capability needed to resolve workplace conflict effectively before it escalates, with Acas research finding that 33% of workers felt their organisation did not have people with the necessary mediation skills to resolve workplace conflict. So how might employers make better use of mediation to help address workplace conflict and so cut costs?
Acas warning highlights role of mediators in UK workplaces
As workplace conflict reaches record levels, new research by Acas shows many organisations may lack the capability needed to resolve disputes effectively before they escalate. The study found that 33% of workers felt their organisation didn’t have people with the necessary mediation skills to resolve workplace conflict. One option is for HR to involve an independent mediator to help resolve the conflict before positions become entrenched.
UK employers turn to mediation as Acas urges action on workplace conflict
Workplace conflict has become a costly issue for employers, yet new research by Acas highlighted by both People Management and Personnel Today has found that a third of workplaces lack the mediation skills needed to resolve disputes effectively. The findings come at a time when workplace conflict remains high – 44% of UK workers reported some form of dispute or disagreement at work in the year to November 2025, the highest figure ever recorded.
New US enforcement plan raises questions for UK employers
Reuters is reporting that the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has adopted a new National Enforcement Plan which changes the agency’s enforcement priorities and places increased scrutiny on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. The move reflects the Trump administration’s broader approach to workplace diversity and has prompted many multinational employers to review how their EDI programmes operate across different jurisdictions.
Multinationals balance global values with local EDI strategies
Are companies quietly quitting EDI? New research from the Thomson Reuters Foundation suggests diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives may be becoming less visible in corporate reporting. Its analysis of nearly 3,000 global companies found that public targets on ethnicity and disability remain relatively uncommon and only around a quarter of companies are publicly reporting workforce ethnicity data, with reporting at board level lower still.
Spotlight on growing complexity of workplace disputes
Kate Dodd tells HRNews why employers are rethinking how workplace disputes are managed and how Employment Plus supports that shift. We're sorry, this video is not available in your location. HR teams are dealing with a sharp rise in grievances, tribunal claims, and workplace disputes, with some employers seeing case numbers double in a relatively short period of time.
Companies should get ahead of mandatory gender pay gap and menopause action plans
The UK government has issued new guidance for employers to provide more effective support and improve workplace equality ahead of the mandatory requirements being introduced next year. Organisations with 250 or more staff can begin voluntary action plans for supporting workplace gender equality and menopause experiences from April 2026 – with mandatory plans becoming compulsory in 2027.
Discursive, Relational, and Pedagogical With-Ness: Expanding “Us” in “Social” Studies
Advanced search Educational Studies A Journal of the American Educational Studies Association Latest Articles Submit an article Journal homepage Full Article Figures & data References Citations Metrics Reprints & Permissions Read this article /doi/full/10.1080/00131946.2026.2632889?needAccess=true Abstract This article troubles the intersections, functions, and manifestations of order-words “social” and “with” as these relate to one social studies teacher’s pedagogy amid antagonistic...
UK firms strengthen EDI governance as litigation and reputational risks rise
Asset managers in the UK are starting to treat diversity, equity and inclusion as an increased risk to their businesses, with legal and compliance teams playing more of a role in firm-wide initiatives according to the UK trade body the Investment Association. In their latest annual talent report they say firms are now treating DEI as a ‘standalone area of concern’ amid political pushback happening in the US under the Trump administration.
Multinationals recalibrate EDI as global strategies meet local realities
DEI will go ‘undercover’ in 2026 – the substance will remain the same but the packaging will be different. That is the view expressed in an opinion piece in HRReview on the evolution of workplace inclusion which suggests many firms are changing their approach to DEI as the language around it becomes more contested and scrutinised with both legal and reputational risk at stake.
Multinationals take ‘regionalised’ approach to US EDI retreat
The Financial Times is reporting that multinational companies are increasingly being forced to rethink how they approach diversity and inclusion, as political pressure in the United States drives a rollback of EDI initiatives.
Why the Word ‘Burnout’ Triggers Such Explosive Reactions (And What That Tells Us About Ourselves)
Haters gonna hate! I’ve had my first trolls on an Instagram post that I thought was pretty innocuous. Well, some of the comments were frankly hilarious, and I wanted to share the level of rage I’d apparently caused. But it also got me thinking — I’d clearly hit a nerve talking about something some people really don’t want to acknowledge as real. Some context — I’m Kate, and I’ve recently started creating content about identifying and overcoming burnout symptoms.
UK firms push ‘return to office’ mandates in 2025
Kate Dodd tells HRNews about the tension between firms’ ‘back to the office’ policies and staff demand for work/life balance. We're sorry, this video is not available in your location. This year, 2025, has been dubbed ‘the year of the return to the office’ and that’s backed up by the latest data which confirms this to be a definite trend.
Ruling shows employers must act proportionately in respect of protected beliefs
Kate Dodd and Francis Keepfer of Pinsent Masons were commenting after the Court of Appeal issued a significant ruling on a case (57 pages/639 KB) involving the dismissal of a school administrator in Gloucestershire that has drawn considerable attention due to its implications for employment rights and free speech.
UK businesses ‘must not backtrack’ on DEI despite US developments
Kate Dodd tells HRNews why UK businesses would be at risk if they rolled back DEI policies in the way US firms have been required to do by President Trump We're sorry, this video is not available in your location. As you may have noticed, DEI is under attack in the US and UK employers are wondering how this might affect them. Diversity, equity, and inclusion has been a core focus for UK businesses in recent years, but is that going to change with a step backwards?
Worker sexual harassment protection law implementation prompts challenges for UK employers
The Worker Protection Act 2023 (WPA) came into force on 26 October 2024. The Act amended the Equality Act 2010 and requires all organisations with employees based in the UK to proactively prevent sexual harassment in the workplace. There has been significant reporting on cases of sexual harassment in the workplace both prior to and since the implementation of the WPA, most recently, at McDonalds.
New UK worker protection law to drive workplace culture change
From 26 October, businesses and employers in the UK are required to take reasonable steps to prevent their employees from experiencing workplace sexual harassment, including worker-to-worker and by third parties like customers and clients. This new mandatory duty has been imposed on employers of all sizes and across all sectors by the Worker Protection (Amendment of Equality Act 2010) Act 2023.
Risk assessments catch firms off guard as new sexual harassment duty approaches
Kate Dodd tells HRNews about preparing for the UK’s new duty to prevent sexual harassment in force from 26 October 2024 We're sorry, this video is not available in your location. The new duty to prevent sexual harassment is about to come into force and whilst most employers know about it, most are not ready for it. There is a lot of work to do so what should employers be prioritising? We’ll ask a D&I expert that question. A reminder.
UK CEOs expect full return to the office by 2027, study shows
Kate Dodd tells HRNews about the potential problems facing businesses pursuing a return to office policy against the wishes of their staff We're sorry, this video is not available in your location. The majority of UK CEOs expect employees to return to office full time within the next three years according to new research by KPMG. The findings are in stark contrast to data from a separate study showing that is precisely the opposite of what employees want.
Training budgets should cover UK’s new sexual harassment duty, warns D&I lawyer
Kate Dodd tells HRNews about securing the ‘buy in’ of senior leaders in UK businesses ahead of the new duty to prevent sexual harassment in force from 26 October 2024 We're sorry, this video is not available in your location. As you will be aware, the new duty to take reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment comes into force on 26 October.
Focus on audits and risk assessments ahead of new sexual harassment duty
Kate Dodd tells HRNews about the steps employers are taking ahead of the new duty to prevent sexual harassment which comes into force on 26 October 2024 We're sorry, this video is not available in your location. On 26 October, a new proactive duty on employers to take ‘reasonable steps’ to prevent sexual harassment of their employees comes into force. What will it mean for employers? What should employers be doing now to prepare for it? We’ll ask a D&I specialist. A reminder.
Changing attitudes to feminism present challenges for businesses
In particular, the views of ‘generation Z’ (gen Z) – those born between 1997 and 2012 – are shifting from positive perceptions of feminism to negative. Recent research conducted by Kings College London’s Policy Institutre and the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership found that 16% of gen Z held negatives views on feminism compared to 13% of those over the age of 60.
UK government publishes ‘Responsible AI in recruitment’ guidance
Kate Dodd tells HRNews about the role of HR in the procurement of AI systems We're sorry, this video is not available in your location. The government has published guidance on responsible AI in recruitment to help employers minimise the risk of introducing systems that perpetuate biases and discrimination in the recruitment process. We’ll speak to a D&I specialist about HR’s role in the procurement of AI for use in recruitment.
Engage with senior leadership to win D&I funding in 2024, says legal expert
Kate Dodd tells HRNews how HR needs to ensure senior leaders in UK businesses ‘buy in’ to D&I initiatives from the outset We're sorry, this video is not available in your location. Will diversity and inclusion fall down business agendas in 2024? The latest data shows there is a real risk of that happening. We’ll speak to a D&I specialist about what HR can do to minimise that risk. This is research by Barnett Waddingham which is reported by People Management.
Overcoming diversity fatigue ‘not a quick win’
Does your business suffer from ‘diversity fatigue’? Do your D&I initiatives stop at an idea, rather than progressing to an active step that is implemented and that makes a difference? We’ll ask a D&I specialist how to spot if there’s a problem and, if there is, what to do about it. Diversity fatigue is the emotional and psychological exhaustion individuals may experience when engaging in D&I-related activities or initiatives.
Managers lack understanding of menopause and don’t know what to do, study shows
Kate Dodd tells HRNews about a menopause product designed to help support women at work We're sorry, this video is not available in your location. Managers lack a basic understanding of menopause and give ‘unacceptable’ responses when the issue is raised with them. Three in 10 admitted they were shocked when confronted with people suffering menopause symptoms and a quarter did not know what to do. So how should this be addressed? We have a suggestion.
Should positive discrimination be legalised in the UK?
Transcript Should positive discrimination be legalised in the UK? HR professionals, employment lawyers and D&I experts have been giving their views in a debate sparked by comments by John Robins, chief constable of West Yorkshire Police who has said, publicly, that he thinks the law should be changed to help increase the number of Black and Asian recruits in the police.
Are LGBTQ+ staff being adequately supported in the workplace?
Transcript More than half of HR and D&I managers think their company currently provides ‘significant support’ to LGBTQ+ employees, but almost two thirds say they have witnessed discrimination towards sexual minorities at work. Separate research suggests employees’ sexual orientation and gender identity may have hindered career progression. We’ll hear from a D&I specialist on what he makes of the findings.
EHRC warns of inadequate AI safeguards
Kate Dodd tells HRNews about HR’s role in understanding AI technology used in the workplace We're sorry, this video is not available in your location. Transcript The Equality and Human Rights Commission has responded to the government’s White Paper on artificial intelligence regulations, warning that the proposals for safeguarding are inadequate and fall short of what’s needed to tackle the risks to human rights and equality.
How should employers measure workplace inclusion?
Kate Dodd tells HRNews about D&I consultancy Brook Graham’s approach to measuring inclusion We're sorry, this video is not available in your location. Transcript There’s no doubt, diversity is good for business and that is the widely accepted view of the vast majority of employers. Indeed, the data shows businesses are devoting more attention and resources to diversity initiatives than ever before – it is recognised as business critical, directly linked to the performance of the business.
How should HR deal with ‘woke’ criticism?
Transcript If HR is labelled ‘woke’ by some within the business, is it a criticism and how should HR react to it, if at all? That was one of the issues discussed at the CIPD’s Festival of Work earlier this month and has been a regular discussion point in the HR press in recent times. People Management looks at this and quotes Danny Mortimer, chief executive of NHS Employers.
Research reveals childcare cost impact on UK labour market
Kate Dodd of Pinsent Masons was commenting after new research by Working Families, the UK’s national charity for working parents and carers, highlighted the impact that the cost of childcare in the UK is having on ‘lower income’ households – a threshold that may nevertheless capture parents earning well above the national average.
Key role for HR in driving up response rates for ethnicity pay gap reporting
Transcript As you may have seen in the news the government has published extensive ethnicity pay gap reporting guidance issued for UK employers. It’s not mandatory, but the government sets out a strong case for voluntary reporting to help to build transparency and trust among employees. The guidance is more extensive than we expected, comprising five separate documents on how to measure, report on and address any ethnicity pay differences within the workforce.
New ethnicity pay gap guidance ‘likely to cause a few headaches’
Transcript As you may have seen in the news the government has published extensive ethnicity pay gap reporting guidance for UK employers. Unlike gender pay reporting there is currently no mandatory legislative requirement for employers to measure and report on ethnicity pay, but with this guidance the government wants to support employers to collate data and report on it in the hope that it will go on to investigate and deal with pay disparities between different ethnic groups.
Employers urged to review race and ethnicity commitments
Transcript Employers across the UK should review previous commitments on race and ethnicity diversity and check if they’ve made the progress they expected and, in some cases, that they’ve promised. That is the central message from diversity and inclusion specialist Shuabe Shabudin in his analysis piece for Out-Law. He says the difficulties faced by those from minority ethnic backgrounds have not lessened and companies that fail to address it risk reputational damage.
RAF's diversity blunder highlights 'positive action' risk
Kate Dodd tells HRNews about the difference between positive action and unlawful discrimination We're sorry, this video is not available in your location. Transcript The RAF has come under heavy fire from a select committee of MPs over an instruction to favour women and ethnic minorities when selecting individuals for training courses.
McDonald's signs agreement with EHRC to protect UK staff from harassment
Transcript The UK arm of fast food giant McDonald’s has signed a ‘section 23 agreement’ with the Equality and Human Rights Commission in response to concerns about the handling of harassment complaints made by hundreds of UK staff.
'Menopause leave' trial rejected by government
Transcript The government has rejected a proposal from the Woman and Equalities Committee to introduce ‘menopause leave’ pilots in England, arguing it could be ‘counterproductive’. It also dismissed a recommendation to make menopause a protected characteristic under the Equality Act. In response the Committee has accused the government of making ‘glacial progress’ on menopause support.
Employment Plus: Pinsent Masons launches enhanced employment law training and consultancy offering
The new offering will encompass equality law, Equality, Diversity & Inclusion, adjacent services such as mediation and investigations, and employment law training. Employment Plus will compliment Pinsent Mason’s Employment & Incentives offering, ensuring a holistic service that combines legal expertise with high-quality consultancy and training, delivered by specialist employment law trainers.
Decision taken from Ipswich City Council
by Kate Dodd, Ipswich Today Ipswich City Council will no longer be involved in the decision as to whether or not the controversial childcare centre development on land part of the historic Deebing Creek mission, with the Deputy Premier Steven Miles to take over jurisdiction.
New duties to be imposed on UK employers to prevent sexual harassment
The government has expressed strong support for the bill, praising it as “an important step change in the protections available against workplace harassment” with its renewed focus on prevention. “Against the political backdrop of promised deregulation and a rumoured move away from many employment protections the latest private members bill is undoubtedly of real significance,” said employment law expert Kate Dodd of Pinsent Masons.
Are you at risk of losing your value-driven employees?
Transcript Is your diversity and inclusion policy causing your employees to leave the business? In the race for talent, are you losing your value-driven employees and, if so, what can HR do to about it? This is the subject of an article by People Management that argues that in today’s workforce employees are increasingly driven by values, ethics and morals and are tuned in to what businesses are doing internally to make a difference.
New ‘menopause product’ will help support women
Transcript It was World Menopause Day last week, 18 October and it got a lot of media coverage, as you’d expect. The main message was this issue needs to be taken much more seriously and employers need to do more to drive change and improve policies. We’ll look at a tool that might help with that. The big plus for businesses, here, has been highlighted by MPs and by the HR press.
Majority of employers say menopause not a 'proper health condition'
Transcript A parliamentary group has urged employers to drive change and improve workplace menopause policies. They have also called on the government to update and promote guidance for employers on best practice which. They say, should include the economic justification and productivity benefits of doing so. This latest report is from the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Menopause and follows their detailed inquiry into the current policy and wider landscape around menopause in the UK.
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