In October, analysis revealed there was a rise in WhatsApp messages used as evidence at tribunal, Sue Gray resigned and HR reacted to the Autumn Budget.
WhatsApp messages used as tribunal evidence
The number of employment tribunals using WhatsApp messages as evidence has tripled since 2019, according to analysis of HM Courts and Tribunal Service data by law firm Nockolds.
In 2019, 150 employment tribunals used WhatsApp messages as evidence; this increased to 427 in 2024. This reflected an increase in employees using WhatsApp to send informal messages to colleagues while working from home, the analysis suggested.
Joanna Sutton, head of employment at Nockolds, said there were “blurred lines” in the use of WhatsApp for work-related communications.
She continued: “Employers and employees can be held personally liable for comments made on messenger apps and, unlike work email accounts, these tend not to be routinely monitored, which makes it harder to deal with problems before they escalate to tribunal claims.”
Sue Gray resigned as chief of staff to prime minister Keir Starmer on 6 October.
On 18 September BBC News reported that Gray was the source of conflict among Labour colleagues, in part due to the news she had received a pay rise upon entering government.
On Sunday (6 October) Gray said that she was resigning as she "risked becoming a distraction to the government’s vital work of change” due to the divisiveness of the commentary over her salary.
“When a media storm does hit, it’s important to act quickly and to do so in line with your organisation’s values,” Lorraine Mills, principle consultant at management consultancy Right Management, commented.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves delivered Labour’s first budget in 14 years on 30 October.
The budget included a rise in the national minimum and living wage, increases in employers’ national insurance and pension contributions, and a higher threshold for carers' allowance. Reeves also said that she would invest in childcare and education.
“Decisions will have to be made to help offset any rising costs, including the likes of reducing hiring, freezing wages or limiting pay rises,” said Chris Elridge, CEO of recruitment firm Robert Walters UK and Ireland.
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