HR and future of work · Industry brief
Top three stories shaping HR and future of work today, written for someone who already works in the industry: regulation, M&A, new entrants, notable filings, and any precedent worth pulling. Cite the trade publication (e.g. trade press, government source, court docket) directly so I can follow up.
← See today's latestGames sector braces for union access rules; compliance calendar tightens
UK union access rights arrive
Games workers are about to gain formal union representation pathways.
The Employment Rights Act takes effect October 30, 2026—less than three weeks away—granting trade unions the right to request workplace access in organisations with 21 or more employees [Quelle: BECTU]. Access can happen in-person, digitally, or hybrid. At an October 1 summit in London, HR leaders from 40+ games companies heard how unions are positioning themselves as strategic partners helping employers manage redundancies, workplace culture, and AI rollouts—not just adversaries.
HR teams in UK games studios need updated consultation protocols before month-end.
Washington salary floor update still pending
Compliance calendar pressure mounts as January 1 closes in.
Following yesterday's tracking, Washington's exempt salary threshold of $92,196 for large employers (51+ workers) remains 81 days away. The move from 2.25× to 2.5× minimum wage multiplier forces job-level audits now to catch misclassifications before the deadline. Small businesses face the same threshold in 2028, giving them breathing room—but multi-state employers with Washington footprints cannot delay.
Run your salary benchmarks this month; November audits risk missing wage-gap fixes.
What the Employment Rights Act could mean for games workers6 hours ago ... Home > News > What the Employment Rights Act could mean for games workers ... future of work across the sector. As games workers face challenges including ...bectu.org.uk