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Establishing a successful recruitment process and clear written employment contracts for new employees can have a major impact on your business.

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

Government extends deadline for voluntary NI contributions

13 June 2023

Taxpayers now have until April 2025 to fill gaps in their National Insurance record from April 2006, giving them a chance to increase their State Pension.

The government has extended the deadline for taxpayers to pay voluntary National Insurance contributions until 5 April 2025, giving them more time to consider whether paying voluntary contributions is right for them. It allows them to spread the cost and could boost their State Pension entitlements.

This includes self-employed people who did not pay contributions because of small profits as well as those with low earnings, those who were unemployed but not claiming benefits and those living or working outside of the UK.

The original deadline was extended to 31 July 2023 earlier this year; tens of thousands of people have paid voluntary contributions to HMRC since then. The revised deadline is expected to enable tens of thousands more to do the same.

"People who have worked hard all their lives deserve to receive their State Pension entitlement, and filling gaps in National Insurance records can make a real difference. With the deadline extended, there is no immediate rush for people to complete gaps in their record and they will have more time to spread the cost." Victoria Atkins, financial secretary to the Treasury.

All relevant voluntary National Insurance contributions payments will be accepted at the rates applicable in 2022 to 2023 until 5 April 2025. Before starting the process, eligible individuals with gaps in their National Insurance record from April 2006 onwards should check whether they would benefit from filling those gaps.

The government is advising taxpayers to check their National Insurance record and get a State Pension forecast. There is information on making a National Insurance payment on the government website.

Written by Rachel Miller.

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