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

Search

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.

Why every business owner needs to make a will

5 September 2023

New research has found that more than half of UK business owners don't have a will and 69% haven't thought about succession planning.

The will-writing charity Will Aid is calling on business owners to make a will in order to secure a legacy for their loved ones and protect their employees when the inevitable happens. Its new poll has found that 54% of business owners don't have a personal will. What's more, 69% do not have any succession plans, haven't thought about succession planning or don't know where to go for advice. With no will in place, their business assets could be distributed in a way that doesn't fit with their wishes.

Estate planning

Peter De Vena Franks, Will Aid campaign director, said: "Having a will means there is a clear plan of action to follow that takes care of business operations. It also minimises confusion between family members and other business stakeholders.

"If you own a business, or have shares, then estate planning is very important. Your immediate family might be reliant on your business assets, and your business partners or colleagues will need to know what happens to your stake in the business after you are gone. A will can help preserve the value of your business and will give you peace of mind that your affairs will be handled according to your wishes."

Will Aid is a partnership between the legal profession and nine UK charities. The initiative, which has been running for more than 30 years, sees participating solicitors waive their fee for writing basic wills every November. Instead, they invite clients to make a voluntary donation to Will Aid - a suggested £100 for a single basic will and £180 for a pair of basic "mirror" wills. Additions to a will - such as succession planning for a business - can be included for a fee.

"A business succession plan is about having a strategy for the future of your business. It is incredibly important because it provides continuity in a time of potential uncertainty, by ensuring that any issues or conflicts that arise after your death are resolved through clear guidance and solutions. For your loved ones it provides clarity over your wishes for the business; and for employees it provides stability, allowing the business to continue to run smoothly." Kieran Pezzack, solicitor​ at Audley Chaucer Solicitors.

To help more people create a will, the annual Will Aid campaign sees solicitors across the UK volunteer their time to write wills throughout November. More solicitors are now being urged to sign up to the campaign to help meet demand for its services.

Written by Rachel Miller.

Stay up-to-date with business advice and news

Sign up to this lively and colourful newsletter for new and more established small businesses.