UK Probationary Period: Employer Guide 2025
A probationary period is a set period of time at the start of an employment relationship during which an employer assesses whether a new employee is suitable for the role. It typically lasts between three to six months and allows both parties to evaluate the fit before confirming long-term employment. In the employment lifecycle, the probationary period […]
Recent Changes in Employment Law 2025
As we start the new year, the following is a round up of the key recent changes in employment law for employers, as well as a reminder of important upcoming changes. UK Minimum Wage to increase in April 2025 Each year, the government sets minimum wage rates based on the recommendations of the […]
Top Human Resources Solutions in the UK
Human Resources (HR) is central to the success of modern organisations, extending far beyond traditional administrative roles. HR now serves as a strategic partner, influencing key areas such as employee satisfaction, productivity, and overall business performance. The true value of HR lies in its capacity to manage an organisation’s most valuable asset—its people—while ensuring compliance […]
Complete UK Employment Law Guide for Employers
Employment law in the UK provides the framework that governs employer-employee relationships, from contracts and pay to health and safety and resolving workplace disputes. For employers, complying with these laws helps to avoid costly legal disputes and builds positive working environments. However, compliance represents an ongoing challenge; these laws are subject to frequent change, as […]
Holiday, Sickness & Leave
Managing employee time off ensures compliance with legal entitlements and maintains a fair and productive workplace. Section A: Holiday Entitlement Holiday entitlement is a fundamental employment right, allowing employees to take time off to rest and recharge. In the UK, statutory regulations provide clear guidelines on the minimum amount of annual leave employees […]
Contract, Hours & Pay
Employment contracts form the basis of the employer-employee relationship, outlining the terms and conditions under which employees work and are remunerated. Section A: Employment Contracts Employment contracts are essential to the employer-employee relationship, providing a formal agreement that specifies the terms and conditions of employment. These contracts should detail key aspects such as […]
Health and Wellbeing
Ensuring the health and wellbeing of employees is a fundamental responsibility for employers, not only as a legal obligation but to contribute to a productive, positive, and sustainable work environment. Employee wellbeing refers to a holistic approach that focuses on the overall health, happiness, and productivity of employees. Beyond just physical health, it encompasses mental […]
Dealing with Problems at Work
Maintaining a positive and productive work environment demands prompt and effective handling of workplace issues. Section A: Dealing with a Problem Raised by an Employee When an employee raises a problem, employers should handle the matter sensitively and in a timely manner to prevent the issue escalating to formal procedures. Initial responses should […]
Is It Illegal To Pay Employees Late?
Employers will want to avoid causing inconvenience and distress to their workforce by paying wages late. But what if your business is going through financial difficulties, and cashflow problems are impacting your ability to pay wages on time – could you face legal action if you pay your employees’ wages late? The law on paying […]
Overtime Pay: Advice for Employers
Calculating overtime pay and holiday entitlement can quickly become complicated for employers. In this overtime pay guide, we will help you understand employees’ rights and your obligations relating to UK overtime laws. What counts as overtime? Typically, an employee will be contractually required to work a fixed number of hours per week in […]
How to Calculate PILON Tax
Following a change in the law in 2018, payments in lieu of notice (PILON) are now subject to tax and national insurance contributions. However, the amount of tax that is due on PILON will depend on what the termination payment is made up of. In this guide, we explain the current rules on calculating tax […]
Types of Flexible Working
As businesses adapt to the impact of the pandemic, change has become the norm in workplaces of all descriptions. Following the lockdown and widespread adoption of homeworking, increasing numbers of businesses are planning to adopt flexible working arrangements on a long-term basis. This is hardly surprising when you consider that 80 per cent of business […]
Improving Equality Diversity & Inclusion at Work
It is no longer acceptable for organisations to pay lip service to equality, diversity and inclusion within the workplace. As well as meeting legal requirements in these areas, employers should also be attune to the social and cultural expectations that people are treated fairly and equally and that opportunities are made available without discrimination or […]
Hiring Happy Employees (Boost Morale & Productivity!)
Boosting employee happiness is one of the most effective ways for an employer to maximise productivity, reduce absenteeism, attract talent and create a compelling employee brand for their business. Traditionally, organisations have sought to improve output among their workforce by focusing on material rewards such as pay rises, bonuses or other employee benefits to incentivise […]
6 Horrible Hiring Mistakes & How to Avoid them!
Hiring mistakes can be extremely costly for organisations of all sizes. Recruiting new staff comes at a considerable cost in terms of both time and money, with some studies suggesting bad hiring decisions can cost an organisation between 20 and 30 percent of an employee’s annual salary. An awareness of common pitfalls will help you […]
Facilitating Behavioural Changes at Work
The ability to facilitate change is a vital skill for all managers, as without change your organisation cannot grow, improve practices and thrive. When planning and orchestrating any changes at work, it is essential that the proposed change is framed positively and that employees are given the tools and information they need to cope. Even […]
Bereavement Leave (How Much Time Off Work?)
As an employer it is important that you provide both a compassionate and legally compliant approach to employee absence from work following the death of a loved one so as to minimise the impact on the bereaved individual and your business. Yet the law relating to bereavement leave is by no means clearly defined. What is […]
Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (How to Claim)
With businesses across the UK economy suffering the impact of the coronavirus outbreak, the Government has stepped in to help employers avoid layoffs and redundancies through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS). The CJRS is an emergency scheme designed to fund wages of those workers who would otherwise be unemployed as a direct consequence of the COVID-19 […]
Coronavirus: Working from Home (Employer Advice)
The UK Government has placed the country on official lockdown from 23 March 2020. Under the new rules, members of the public must not leave their house except to: Travel to and from work if impossible to work from home Shop for essentials, as infrequently as possible Exercise outdoors once per day, alone or with […]
Should I Furlough My Employees?
Businesses forced to close to reduce the spread of coronavirus and those that are still operating but seeing no or very little work are now looking to lay offs, asking workers to take unpaid leave or to furlough employees to reduce their outlay on salaries. Can you force employees to take unpaid leave? Despite the […]