Running a business can be tough at the best of times, but despite the ups and downs of doing so, you’ll need to ensure you’re compliant with employment law.
It’s an area that is full of pitfalls and getting it right means keeping up-to-date with new developments, thinking carefully about your policies and implementing them with care. Getting it wrong could cost you and your business more than you know.
If you’re worried and don’t have the appropriate resources in house, why not enlist the help of specialist risk consultants who can enable your business in getting the processes and procedures right.
There are a number of areas you’ll need to make sure are right – here are some of the main elements you need to be clued up on that are likely to affect you the most…
Comply with statutory hours, leave and pay
You must comply with the statutory requirements for all of these. Most employees are entitled to work no more than a maximum of a 48 hour working week. They are able to voluntarily agree to disapply the rules, but this agreement must be in writing and must be signed by said employee.
Your employees are also entitled to a minimum of 5.6 weeks’ paid leave a year. Of course, you can contractually allow them to have more, but this is at your discretion and will need to be in their contracts.
Employees aged over 25 must be paid the National Living Wage of £8.72 per hour. For those aged 21 to 25 this is £8.20, £6.45 for those aged 18 to 20, and £4.55 for employees aged 16 and 17. If they are an apprentice under the age of 19, or older than this but in the first year of their apprenticeship, they must be paid at least £4.15 per hour.
Employee rights
Those in your employment have a number of rights that you’ll have to adhere to. They have some which are implied in their contracts but also some which the contract cannot override. As an employer you must provide a secure, safe and healthy working environment, and they’re also entitled to a reasonable degree of privacy.
As an employer you must be mindful that those who work for you are also entitled to blow the whistle on any of your wrongdoings, and if you sack or demote them because of this, they can sue for full compensation for any losses incurred.
You can see a full list of employee rights here.
Discrimination
Arguably one of the most important areas that you cannot ignore. You and your business must not discriminate unlawfully. You must not treat someone less favourably because of their:
- Race, colour, nationality or ethnicity
- Sex or sexual orientation
- Gender reassignment
- Age
- Disability
- Religion or other belief
- Marital or civil partnership status
- Pregnancy, maternity or parental responsibility
With so much to think about as a business, it’s important you get clued up on these elements and have the correct processes, procedures and management in place to help your ship run as smooth as possible.
