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Practical employment law information to support your business, from Clover HR

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Setting up a business involves complying with a range of legal requirements. Find out which ones apply to you and your new enterprise.

Every business needs to be aware of its obligations under minimum wage and equal pay laws, as well as recent pensions auto-enrolment changes.

What particular regulations do specific types of business (such as a hotel, or a printer, or a taxi firm) need to follow? We explain some of the key legal issues to consider for 200 types of business.

While poor governance can bring serious legal consequences, the law can also protect business owners and managers and help to prevent conflict.

You must comply with legal restrictions on employees' working hours and time off, or risk claims, enforcement action and even prosecution.

The right employment policies are an essential part of effective staff management. Make sure any policy is clear and well communicated to employees.

Whether you want to raise finance, join forces with someone else, buy or sell a business, it pays to be aware of the legal implications.

While sick employees need to be treated fairly, you need to ensure that 'sickness' is not being used as cover for unauthorised absence.

Marketing matters. Marketing drives sales for businesses of all sizes by ensuring that customers think of their brand when they want to buy.

Most pregnant employees are entitled to maternity leave and maternity pay, while new fathers are entitled to paternity leave and paternity pay.

Commercial disputes can prove time-consuming, stressful and expensive, but having robust legal agreements can help to prevent them from occurring.

As well as undermining morale, illegal discrimination can lead to workplace grievances. Employee discrimination is covered by the Equality Act 2010.

Whether your business owns or rents premises, your legal liabilities can be substantial. Commercial property law is complex, but you can avoid common pitfalls.

Home, remote and lone workers are becoming increasingly commonplace. Key issues include communication and how to manage and motivate people remotely.

With information and sound advice, living up to your legal responsibilities to safeguard your employees, customers and visitors need not be difficult or costly.

The right approach to consulting with and providing information to your employees can improve employee motivation and performance.

As information technology continues to evolve, legislation must also change. It affects everything from data protection and online selling to internet policies for employees.

Disciplinary and grievance issues can be a major burden to employers. Putting in place and following the right procedures is essential.

Following the right dismissal and redundancy procedures helps protect your business and minimise the risk of a legal dispute at tribunal.

Intellectual property (IP) isn't solely relevant to larger businesses or those involved in developing innovative new products: all products have IP.

Employment tribunal claims are a worrying prospect for any employer. A tribunal case is a no-win situation – even if the claim is unjustified.

Knowing how and when you plan to sell or relinquish control of your business can help you to make better decisions and achieve the best possible outcome.

From bereavement, wills, inheritance, separation and divorce to selling a house, personal injury and traffic offences, learn more about your personal legal rights.

Also in the news this week - 15 January 2016

15 January 2016

The impact of workspaces on UK productivity

Data released this month by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) estimates that production output decreased by 0.7% between October 2015 and November 2015. And recent CBI data reveals that the UK is 20 percentage points below the G7 average on productivity, the widest gap since 1991. Workspaces are a contributing factor says Tim Oldman, ceo of Leesman: "We have spoken to more than 135,000 employees across the world and the latest data has revealed that office environments can and do hinder productivity … only 54% [of British employees surveyed] think their workspace allows them to work productively."

Young people eager to start their own business

Almost three-quarters (72%) of UK workers aged 25-34 are keen to start a business, according to new research from Standard Life. In addition, 57% of all UK workers have considered becoming their own boss. But the barriers which stop people from changing career path and starting a business include: worries about being too old to change direction (11%), valuing current stability (11%), not knowing where to start (10%), and a lack of confidence (10%).

Cyber attacks likely to "hit SMEs harder"

Specialist data protection lawyers Moore Blatch have warned that SMEs could suffer disproportionately if they are hacked. New legislation means that customers affected by a breach could seek financial compensation for distress even if no financial loss is suffered. Paul Whitaker, partner at Moore Blatch, said: "The most commonly discussed financial cost relating to a cyber-attack and loss of data is the potential fine from the Information Office Commissioner. But … the loss of the client's relationship and details about products and services lost could cause far greater emotional stress … if an SME is hacked or loses client data, the claim for emotional distress could be far higher."

Do you know your numbers?

Many UK small businesses struggle to make accurate projections for the year ahead because they don't have a handle on the state of their own business. A survey by Worldpay found that a fifth of business owners still use a pen and paper for their business admin. In addition, 48% of respondents were unable to identify their top ten customers, 57% didn't know their busiest trading day of the month and 62% were unable to identify their top three selling items.

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