The Andy Burnham-led Greater Manchester Combined Authority will bring a so-called "six-month rule" into force from next week, in what the Manchester Evening News describes as a major change to employment rules affecting the region.

The change touches employer obligations for people working in Greater Manchester, and HR teams with staff in the area will need to review their contracts and processes before the rule takes effect. Because the policy applies specifically to the combined authority's jurisdiction, national employers should check which of their roles and workers fall inside Greater Manchester's boundaries.

The report frames the move as part of Burnham's wider agenda for the region, where devolved government has increasingly shaped local labour-market policy. Employers have a short runway: the rule starts next week, leaving days rather than months to adjust documentation, onboarding steps and any contractual clauses the six-month threshold affects.

The source does not specify enforcement mechanisms or penalties, so legal review of how the rule interacts with existing UK employment law is a prudent next step for people leaders. Watch for guidance from the combined authority as the effective date arrives.