The What If HR blog / Topic
Plain-English employment law and compliance guidance for UK small business owners: contracts, policies, right to work, the Employment Rights Act 2025 and more.
The National Living Wage goes up to £13.21 an hour on 1 April 2027, confirmed in the Budget. Every rate, what the rise costs a small employer, who to check first and the Budget's plans for non-compete clauses and mileage.
Since 6 April 2026, Statutory Sick Pay starts on the first full day off sick. What a single day costs for a part-timer, when you can ask for a fit note, what a reporting rule can and can't do, and how to keep absence fair in a small team.
Registering with HMRC, payroll, the workplace pension, employers' liability insurance and the right to work check: what a first-time employer sets up before the first payday, in order, with 2026/27 costs.
The Christmas 2026 dates, the notice a closure needs and the email to send, why closure days can't simply be unpaid, part-timers and casual staff, and the party under the new harassment duty.
From 1 January 2027, staff can claim unfair dismissal after six months. How to run probation so the decision lands in time.
What a new starter form should ask for, what to leave off and how it differs from HMRC's starter checklist, with a free one-page form to print or fill in on screen.
Since 30 October 2026, the duty to prevent sexual harassment has been all reasonable steps, and you can be liable when a customer, client or visitor harasses your staff. Here is the minimum that works for a small team.
Employment status decides who gets sick pay, holiday and dismissal rights. Plain-English UK table for employees, workers, self-employed and agency staff.
Red heat alert, public transport disruption, car vs train commuters: what does UK employment law require? What If HR explains the employer's duties and how to communicate fairly.
From 6 April 2026, keeping holiday pay records is a legal duty for UK employers and getting it wrong can be a criminal offence. This guide covers what to record, how long to keep it (six years) and what the Fair Work Agency can do if your records fall short. Practical steps for small businesses to stay compliant from day one.
What a UK employer must check, give and collect for a new starter, in date order, with the 2026 changes to right to work, sick pay and holiday records and a free one-page checklist.
Unlimited annual leave sounds progressive. In practice, it often means your team takes less holiday. Here's what agency owners need to know before implementing it.
Acas handled nearly 118,000 early conciliation cases in 2024 to 2025. Here's what every small business owner needs to know to protect their position.
Many small businesses use the same handbook for employees and workers without realising the legal risks. This article explains what the difference really means, when one handbook works, when it doesn't and how to structure policies clearly without overcomplicating things or creating unintended rights.
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