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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.

Brits on the move as remote working becomes the norm

6 October 2020

Nearly two-thirds of Brits have thought about moving since their daily commute has been replaced by home working, according to new research.

A poll of 2,000 Brits by OnePoll for MoneyTransfers.com has found that 63% have considered living elsewhere since the COVID-19 lockdown brought in widespread remote working; 46% have thought about moving within the next 12 months.

The idea of moving is most appealing to younger people, with three out of four of Gen X and 70% of millennials saying they have considered a move due to changes in their work environment. This compares to 54% of Gen X and 46% of Baby Boomers.

Reasons for moving cited by respondents include:

  • For a better quality of life (52%);
  • Because they can work remotely (49%);
  • To reduce the cost of living (38%);
  • To reduce housing costs - both renting and buying (29%);
  • For a slower pace of life (29%);
  • For better weather or scenery (28%);
  • For adventure (22%);
  • To be closer to family (21%);
  • Because of COVID-19 (16%).

The findings indicate that most people would choose to stay in the UK - just 12% said they want to move overseas while 74% want to relocate within the UK; 14% remain unsure.

London remains a popular destination (for 19% of those that want to stay in the UK) although a significant number (12%) are attracted by a rural life in the South West of England. Other popular destinations are: the South East (11%), Scotland (8%) and Yorkshire and the Humber (7%).

For those looking to move abroad, Spain came top, followed by Canada, the United States, Australia and Greece. For the Gen Z demographic, English-speaking countries are more popular, with Australia and the US being the most popular choices. Baby Boomers prefer Italy and Portugal.

The poll findings also reveal something of a gender divide, with 68% of men saying that they would consider moving if remote working continued to be available, compared to 50% of women. "Missing family and friends" was the main reason that women didn't want to move (for 46%), with the high cost of moving preventing 41% of men from making a move.

Jonathan Merry, ceo of MoneyTransfers.com, said: "With many working from home for an extended period of time, the general public [have] questioned whether they could be rid of their commutes, large rents, or mortgages for good, and instead, live and work from somewhere else … I believe that this on-going experience will ultimately provide the public with more freedom to live and work remotely in the future, with digital being at the forefront of this movement."

Written by Rachel Miller.

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