Whether you’re an enterprising entrepreneur or an established business owner – understanding at least the basics of UK law can be hugely beneficial. From avoiding the potential for issues to arise, right through to looking after any employees that you’re responsible for; UK employment law is the governing authority for all things work-related. In this article, we’ll be taking a brief look at UK employment law.
Employment laws in the UK
First things first, hiring a good employment lawyer can help to speed up your understanding, especially if you don’t have the time or capability to get to grips with common law and legislation within the United Kingdom. As laws change and are subject to modification in Parliament, keeping on top of things can be tricky and this is why so many turn to specialist attorneys for guidance and support. With this in mind, here are the key factors to consider relating to British employment law:
- Contractual obligations for full or part-time employees – which relates to the employment status of an individual that you are employing, or even a secondary business that you are using for their services. All contracts should be written, verified and signed by a lawyer with knowledge of employment law, as this can save a host of problems from arising should anything not be covered in the contract.
- Knowledge of minimum hourly wage – with full-time workers being entitled to £9.50 when they are aged over 23, and part-time workers working under a zero-hour contract, but still being entitled to their respective hourly wage.
- Entitlements including sick pay, leave, absences and more – ensuring that employees are fully covered regardless of the incident that they need to address. A good employment attorney can help by defining allocated time off to those under employment, with an HR manager or team being ideal for keeping track of days where these entitlements apply.
- Other processes including discrimination policies, insurance, claims, pensions and whistleblowing – with this last section being some of the most important to consider. All British companies are legally obligated to abide by particular laws and legislations, as defined by Parliament, and failure to comply can result in hefty fines or even prison sentences in extreme circumstances. To avoid these issues, always seek professional advice to minimise the chances of these incidents taking place.
Help and advice with UK employment law
The above is a generalised list of British employment legislations and as mentioned previously, seeking the aid of a qualified and licensed professional can spell the difference between disaster and success. As a business owner in charge of employees, you’ll likely want to ensure their safety, security and satisfaction to enhance the productivity within your business – and a good lawyer will certainly be able to help with this. British law can be complicated and often stressful to understand, and with so many pieces of legislation to adhere to, it’s always advisable to seek professional advice when possible.
