Employment Law Articles
Expert articles and practical legal guides on employment law for uk businesses.
What Happens When a Company Goes Into Administration in the UK?
If you run a small business, hearing that a customer, supplier, or even your own company might be “going into administration” can feel like a punch to the stomach. It usually raises...
2 February 2026
Whistleblowing Policy Meaning in the UK: Key Requirements for Employers
If you employ staff (or you’re about to), it’s worth getting clear on one question early: what does a whistleblowing policy mean in a workplace context, and what do you actually need...
2 February 2026
Franchise Restaurants In The UK: Legal Considerations For Owners
Opening a restaurant is exciting - and buying into a franchise can feel like the “safer” path because you’re stepping into an established brand, menu, and operating system. But running a franchise...
1 February 2026
Flexible Working Request Example: How UK Employers Should Handle It Correctly
Flexible working requests used to feel like something only bigger companies dealt with. Now, they’re a regular part of running a UK small business - especially if you employ working parents, carers,...
1 February 2026
Selection Process in Hiring: UK Legal Compliance Guide
Hiring is exciting - it’s a sign your business is growing. But it’s also one of those moments where a “quick and casual” approach can create real legal risk. In the UK,...
1 February 2026
Buying a Small Business in the UK: Legal Process and Key Contracts
Buying a business can be one of the fastest ways to grow - you’re not starting from scratch, you’re stepping into something that (hopefully) already has customers, suppliers, processes, and revenue. But...
1 February 2026
12-Hour Shift Break Rules In The UK: Rest Requirements For Employers
Running 12-hour shifts can be a practical way to cover long opening hours, reduce handovers and keep staffing predictable - especially in sectors like care, security, hospitality, logistics and manufacturing. But longer...
31 January 2026
Social Responsibility in Business: What It Means for UK SMEs and Startups
If you’re running a small business or building a startup, you’ve probably felt the pressure to “do the right thing” - for customers, staff, suppliers, and your wider community. That’s where social...
31 January 2026Why It's A Good Idea To Have A Work Experience Agreement (2026 Updated)
Work experience placements can be a win-win: you get extra hands, fresh ideas and a chance to build your talent pipeline, while the student (or career-changer) gets real-world exposure and confidence. But...
31 January 2026
Phantom Share Option Plans - 6 Things You Need To Know (2026 Updated)
If you're trying to attract (and keep) great people in 2026, you've probably heard the same advice a hundred times: "Offer equity." But what if you're not ready to give away real...
31 January 2026
Can Employees Take Unpaid Leave From Work in the UK?
When you run a small business, you’re balancing customer deadlines, cashflow, and a team that (quite reasonably) has a life outside work. So when an employee asks: “can you take unpaid leave...
31 January 2026
Health and Safety Policy Statement: UK Requirements and Key Inclusions
If you’re running a small business, health and safety can feel like one of those “I’ll deal with it later” tasks - right up until something goes wrong. A clear health and...
31 January 2026Employer Contributions for UK Auto-Enrolment: Rules and Deadlines
If you employ staff in the UK, workplace pensions are one of those “set it up once, keep it running properly forever” obligations. And while the rules aren’t impossible, it’s very easy...
31 January 2026
Buying A Franchise In The UK: Legal Checklist For Business Owners
Buying a franchise can feel like the “best of both worlds” for a small business owner: you get an established brand, proven systems and (often) training and support, while still running your...
30 January 2026
UK Employee Expenses Policy: What To Include For Staff Claims
If you’re running a small business, employee expenses can start out simple (“keep the receipt and we’ll sort it out”) and quickly become messy. One person books a last-minute train, another uses...
30 January 2026
Flexible Working Hours In The UK: Employer Legal Guide
Flexible working hours can be a genuine win-win for small businesses. Done well, flexible working arrangements help you retain great people, reduce absenteeism, support productivity, and make hiring easier (especially if you’re...
30 January 2026
UK Minimum Wage 2026: New Rates and Employer Compliance
If you employ staff (or you’re about to hire your first team member), you may be wondering what the UK minimum wage is going up to in 2026 - and what you...
30 January 2026
How To Write A Legally Compliant Employment Termination Letter In The UK
Ending someone’s employment is never just a “quick admin task”. For a small business, it can feel especially high-stakes - you’re balancing fairness, legal compliance, operational needs, and (often) a difficult conversation....
29 January 2026UK Overtime Rules: Pay Rates And Employer Obligations
When you’re running a small business, overtime can creep up on you. Maybe a project runs late, a customer order spikes, someone calls in sick, or you’re covering rota gaps while you...
29 January 2026
Probation Periods At Work In The UK: How They Work And What To Include
If you’re hiring your first employee (or your fiftieth), it’s completely normal to want a “try-before-you-commit” stage where you can check that the role, performance and culture fit are all working in...
29 January 2026Sackable Offence: Meaning And Legal Steps For UK Employers
If you run a small business, there are few things more disruptive than serious misconduct. One moment you’re focused on customers, cashflow and growth - the next, you’re dealing with an incident...
29 January 2026Employer Reference Letters: What UK Businesses Can and Can’t Say
When you’re running a small business, it’s easy to treat a reference request as a quick admin task. But an employer reference letter can create real legal and commercial risk if it’s...
29 January 2026Seconded Employees In The UK: Contracts, Liability And Compliance
Secondments can be a smart way to get experienced people into your business quickly, test a new role before hiring permanently, or support a project without restructuring your whole team. But when...
29 January 2026Work Appraisals In The UK: Process, Fairness And Legal Risk
If you’re running a small business, it’s easy for work appraisal conversations to slip down the priority list. You’re busy, the team’s moving fast, and you might only have a handful of...
28 January 2026
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