In this episode of Hiring to Firing, hosts Tracey Diamond and Emily Schifter swap the halls of corporate America for the grand corridors of Downton Abbey, using the beloved British period drama to unpack the real‑world differences between U.S. and UK employment law. Joined by London‑based labor and employment partner Nick Elwell‑Sutton, they use iconic Downton storylines to discuss key points of UK employment law, from redundancies to mandatory leave and rest periods, and evolving discrimination protections. The conversation also covers the UK’s low threshold for disability accommodation and the duty to make “reasonable adjustments,” strict GDPR‑driven rules around privacy and employee data, and the differences between U.S. at‑will employment and UK contract‑based rights. Tune in for practical, jurisdiction‑specific insights on how multinational employers can navigate hiring, firing, and everything in between on both sides of the Atlantic — without ending up with a legal drama worthy of the Crawleys.
Nick Elwell-Sutton
Nick provides responsive, commercially focused legal counsel to businesses navigating employment law challenges. With a deep commitment to practical solutions, he helps clients resolve disputes and achieve their organizational goals efficiently and effectively.
Labor + Employment Workforce Watch – September 2025
Labor + Employment Workforce Watch is a guide to the employment law developments most likely to impact your business. The Troutman Pepper Locke Labor + Employment Team represents employers in the most sensitive workplace matters, enabling our clients to concentrate on their core business operations. Our team is adept at handling and managing labor and employment issues on national, international, and local levels. Recognized as a leading law firm by Chambers USA, our attorneys provide comprehensive advice on every type of employment issue a company may encounter, at every stage of the employment life cycle.