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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.

New watchdog to protect workers' rights

8 June 2021

The government has announced plans for a new body that will take over responsibility for enforcing the rules on modern slavery, the minimum wage and other employee rights.

The new watchdog - which has yet to be given a name - has been established to clamp down on workplace abuse and provide a one-stop-shop where employees and businesses can go for help on workers' rights. It will also make it easier for employees to get the holiday and sick pay they are entitled to without having to resort to legal action.

Until now, responsibility for tackling modern slavery, enforcing the minimum wage and protecting agency workers had been spread across three different bodies. Now it is being brought under one roof and the government has pledged that businesses that break the rules will have "nowhere to hide".

The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) says the watchdog will provide a "single, recognisable port of call for workers so they know their rights and can blow the whistle on bad behaviour" as well as helping businesses to do the right thing by providing guidance.

As well as enforcing all existing powers, the new body will have a new ability to ensure vulnerable workers get the holiday pay and statutory sick pay they are entitled to - without having to go through a lengthy employment tribunal process.

Business minister Paul Scully said: "This government has been absolutely clear that we will do whatever we can to protect and enhance workers' rights. The vast majority of businesses want to do right by their staff, but there are a minority who seem to think the law doesn't apply to them."

He added: "This new workers' watchdog will help us crack down on any abuses of workers' rights and take action against companies that turn a blind eye to abuses in their supply chains, while providing a one-stop shop for employees and businesses wanting to understand their rights and obligations."

The new body will continue the naming and shaming scheme that calls out companies who fail to pay workers what they are owed and which can hit rogue employers with fines of up to £20,000 per worker. The watchdog will also scrutinise sectors where abuse is most common, including construction, agriculture and the garment industry. The plans could include a future Garment Trade Adjudicator which would have the power to ban goods made in factories where workers have been repeatedly underpaid.

Written by Rachel Miller.

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