Category: Blogs

From April next year, employees in Great Britain who suffer a bereavement will have a new day-one right to take up to two weeks’ unpaid leave from work. The change forms part of the Employment Rights Act, which became law in December 2025, and is intended to create a clearer minimum standard for employees facing some of the most difficult moments in their personal lives.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer is set to announce an extra bank holiday on Friday 24th July if England win the World Cup final on Sunday 19th July. While there is currently no confirmed plan for an extra bank holiday, employers may wish to consider the potential implications now rather than waiting for a last-minute announcement.

The Government is asking for public views on how the law works for couples who live together but are not married if they separate. This is part of a consultation called A Fairer End to Relationships, which is open online until mid-August.

Research over a number of years consistently shows that incidents of domestic abuse increase during major football tournaments involving England, whether our national team win or lose.

The Government has decided to remove the time limit for people making claims about childhood sexual abuse. This means victims can ask for compensation whenever they are ready, without worrying about being too late.

A recent BBC News report has shone an important light on the use of hair strand drug testing in Family Court proceedings. It told the story of a mother who nearly lost the chance to be reunited with her child after a hair strand test appeared to show ongoing ketamine use, despite her maintaining that she had stopped. The case was later reconsidered, and expert evidence raised doubts about whether the test results had been interpreted correctly.

Morecrofts are pleased to be hosting a free legal advice clinic based in the Wirral in partnership with Spark, offering our community the opportunity to access clear and confidential legal guidance.

Grief is something that will affect all of us at some point in our lives. Yet in the workplace, it is still a subject many employers feel uncomfortable addressing. As part of Dying Matters Awareness Week, this is an important moment for employers to reflect on how they support staff who are experiencing bereavement – and whether their policies and procedures genuinely meet the needs of their people.