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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.

Working from home set to double

21 July 2020

New research confirms that the coronavirus pandemic has caused a permanent shift in how people work.

The proportion of people working from home on a regular basis once the COVID-19 crisis is over will increase from 18% to 37%, according to research by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD).

The findings also show that employers expect the proportion of staff who work from home all the time to rise to 22% post-pandemic, compared to 9% before lockdown. During the lockdown the average proportion of the workforce working from home continuously was 54%.

The CIPD survey also found that:

  • 44% of employers are putting in place additional measures to support home working;
  • Of these, 66% plan to change their policies to enable more home working and 46% plan more line management training to support home workers;
  • 33% of employers plan to introduce new forms of flexible working or increase the uptake of existing flexible working arrangements.

The CIPD is calling for flexible working to be a day-one right for all employees, rather than after 26-weeks as currently required. The government has pledged to consult on the issue.

Peter Cheese, CIPD chief executive, said: "The pandemic is going to have a long-lasting effect on how we work, with a step change in the proportion of people who work from home on a much more regular basis … Greater use of home working will make work more accessible and sustainable for all, particularly for people with caring responsibilities and those with mobility or health concerns. This shift will support and encourage employers to recruit and retain a more diverse workforce which is good for the economy and society at large. For many people, more flexible working opportunities and choice over when and where they work can give a better work-life balance and support for overall mental and physical wellbeing."

Research collated by Instant Offices has identified the countries that have embraced home working as the new normal. In the UK, 68% of businesses currently have a flexible work policy. It comes in sixth place after Germany (80%), the Netherlands (75%), Australia (71%), the USA (69%) and Canada (68%). However, 73% of UK employees now consider flexible working to be the new normal, compared to 68% in Germany.

John Williams, head of marketing at Instant Offices, said: "We've seen in recent years how flexible working can have a positive impact on talent acquisition and retention. We've also noticed a significant increase in demand for the opportunity to work from home, particularly from working parents looking to return to the workplace. Considering these trends, it's reasonable to expect that the right to work from home could help businesses to retain more diverse talent, save on turnover costs and enjoy the benefits of a happier, more engaged workforce."

Research by Attic Self Storage has revealed that although restrictions are being lifted, 41% of office workers expect to continue working from home in the long term, with 44% saying it's the most productive place they have ever worked.

Over a quarter (28%) of those polled said their bosses see no point in returning to costly office spaces; and 19% are even shutting down the office so that their staff can work from home.

As a result, many people are making changes at home to support their new working arrangements. The findings show that 27% are decorating or converting their homes and 36% are decluttering.

Written by Rachel Miller.

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