169: The Relaxback UK Show with Mike Dilke - Episode 169169: The Relaxback UK Show with Mike Dilke - Episode 169
UK Health Radio Podcast
Employment lawyer Sarah‑Jane Butler outlines new UK employment law changes and their impact on workers and small businesses, while design manager Millie Lawrence explains how neurodivergent-friendly office design can improve productivity and wellbeing. The episode links legal rights, workplace health and practical design choices that can influence how people feel and function at work.
41:59•26 May 2026
New UK Employment Laws and Neurodivergent-Friendly Offices
Episode Overview
- New UK employment laws give employees earlier rights, including day-one flexible working requests and sick pay from the first day off.
- Zero-hours and agency workers are expected to gain guaranteed hours and compensation when shifts are cut at short notice, with details phasing in up to 2027.
- Increased compliance demands may hit small and medium businesses hardest, potentially making employers more cautious about hiring, especially younger staff.
- Mental health and musculoskeletal issues remain major causes of long-term absence, and while laws may not fix this, employers still carry a strong duty of care.
- Inclusive office design for neurodivergent staff—using zoning, better acoustics, flexible lighting, anchor desks and retreat spaces—can boost productivity and reduce cognitive fatigue.
“It can increase productivity. It can improve the talent retention and reduce the cognitive fatigue as well.”
What are the common struggles and victories in addiction recovery? While this episode isn't about alcohol directly, it gives a sharp look at two huge factors that shape many people's working lives: job security and how inclusive workplaces really are. Host Mike Dilk chats first with employment lawyer Sarah‑Jane Butler about the latest wave of UK employment law changes.
She explains how new rules give staff earlier rights under the Employment Rights Act, including day‑one rights to request flexible working and sick pay from the first day off. Zero‑hours contracts still exist, but there’s more protection on the way, with guaranteed hours and potential compensation when shifts are cancelled at short notice.
Sarah‑Jane is candid about the pressure this puts on small businesses, warning that “young people in particular will end up being disadvantaged because they don't have the experience” and employers may be more cautious about taking risks on new hires. The conversation also touches on long‑term sickness, especially mental health and musculoskeletal problems, and how employers’ legal duty of care ties into better workplace practices.
While the new laws might not magically cut absence rates, they push companies towards more proactive, record‑based compliance. The second half shifts to office design with Cedus design manager Millie Lawrence, who focuses on making workplaces work better for neurodivergent staff. She points out that “it can increase productivity. It can improve the talent retention and reduce the cognitive fatigue as well” when spaces are designed thoughtfully.
Millie breaks down practical tweaks: zoning offices into quiet and collaborative areas, using acoustic solutions instead of just noise‑cancelling headphones, adding anchor desks for those who need routine, adjusting lighting options and colours, and creating retreat spaces for focused or restorative time. If you're rethinking how work, health and recovery fit together, this episode might get you asking: is your workplace helping you thrive, or quietly wearing you down?
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