Happy Thursday!
This week’s updates are all about momentum. With the Employment Rights Act now on the horizon, we’re launching a free webinar to help you prepare, and we’re also excited to reveal the first look at Conflict Resolution Week 2026. Communication and conflict resolution are moving firmly into the spotlight, not as add-ons, but as essentials for healthy workplaces and communities.
Employment Rights Act 2025 – what it means for conflict resolution – FREE WEBINAR
The Employment Rights Bill is now in its final stages, expected to come into force early next year. Once enacted, it will reshape expectations around employment relationships from day one – requiring clearer, more consistent approaches to communication, fairness and early resolution.
Key changes include:
- Day one unfair dismissal protection removing reliance on extended probation flexibility.
- More predictable working patterns reducing informal arrangements.
- Redundancy protections linked to family leave, requiring earlier and more transparent communication.
For organisations with confident, structured early resolution processes, these shifts will feel manageable. Where conversations are avoided or inconsistent, the risk of conflict and escalation will rise.
To explore the implications and share practical guidance, ADR Mediation will host a free webinar on Friday 12 December at 10am, joined by an expert panel including:
- An Employment Law Specialist, Brabners Solicitors
- Kim Logan, ADR Mediation Managing Director
- Claire Brockbank, HR Specialist, Cube HR
- Emma Goddard and Marie Coombes, Conflict Resolution Specialists
The discussion will unpack the operational impact of the new Act and explore how to embed confident conflict resolution practices into everyday leadership.
Conflict Resolution Week 2026 – Turning Conversation into Change
We’re excited to share the first look at Conflict Resolution Week 2026, taking place 26 April – 1 May 2026.
Led nationally by ADR Mediation, this year’s theme – Turning Conversation into Change: Building Stronger Communities – celebrates communication as the most powerful tool for resolving conflict.
The week will include:
Planned Activities
Throughout the week, ADR Mediation will coordinate a series of events and initiatives, including:
- In-Person National Conference – a one-day event bringing together practitioners, leaders, and partners to explore conflict resolution in practice.
- Interactive Online Training Events – focused on key topics relevant to different sectors including Housing, the NHS, Police, Community Safety and other Public Sector bodies.
- Meetings with Key National and Local Government Representatives – targeted discussions to raise awareness of conflict resolution’s role in housing, education, policing and workplace relations, and to champion early intervention as a public priority.
- Special Podcast Series – featuring interviews and discussions on conflict, challenging conversations and the changing landscape of conflict resolution where communication can drive change.
- Awareness Toolkit – digital resources for organisations to use internally or share across their own communication channels.
It’s an opportunity to move beyond awareness and show how meaningful communication can change outcomes – for individuals, workplaces and communities alike.
If your organisation would like to host an event, sponsor an activity or commission training as part of the week, please contact either Steve on steven@adrmediation.org.uk or Pamela on hello@adrmediation.org.uk
Community Mediation – potential waiting to be realised
A recent report from Community Law & Mediation in Ireland described community mediation as having “significant yet largely untapped potential” to prevent disputes and strengthen local relationships.
The findings are just as relevant here in the UK. Neighbour disputes, intergenerational conflict and community tensions all reflect a growing need for early, accessible mediation services that sit outside formal systems.
The report also reinforces something we see every day – that mediation isn’t just about resolution; it’s about rebuilding confidence, restoring communication and giving people the tools to manage conflict well.
Read the full article: Community mediation has ‘significant yet largely untapped’ potential
That’s our round-up for this week. We’ll be back next week with more updates, insights and opportunities to get involved.
The ADR Mediation Team
