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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.

Small firms make vaccinations compulsory for staff

24 August 2021

A new study has found that the Delta variant of the coronavirus is having a significant impact on small businesses, with some delaying a return to the workplace and many planning to make COVID vaccinations mandatory for their employees.

Research by JumpCloud has investigated the ways in which small firms are responding to the threats currently posed by coronavirus - and the Delta variant in particular. Its latest survey, 2021 Impact of COVID-19 on SMEs, polled small businesses in the UK and the United States to find out what steps businesses are now taking to manage COVID risks.

Many small businesses are calling on their employees to get vaccinated. In the UK, the findings show that 58% of SMEs have taken steps to mandate vaccination for employees, including 73% of companies in Greater London and 45% in the rest of the UK. More than half of those mandating vaccinations (56%) say they will offer incentives to encourage vaccination, including paid time off work to get a vaccine, a holiday with proof of vaccination and even cash or other compensation.

In the UK, 53% of small firms say they are rethinking the plan to return to the office and an additional 15% say they have already delayed their "work in the office" start date. Of those who have delayed a return to the office, 32% of respondents are delaying until September; 11% are delaying until October; 19% are delaying until November or later; and 38% don't yet have a firm timeline. Seven in ten UK SMEs (71%) say that they will be offering a "work from home" option indefinitely.

For those UK firms that have made changes to their return-to-work plans, these include:

  • Requiring social distancing in the workplace (62%);
  • Limiting the number of people in the workspace at one time (60%);
  • Requiring masks or PPE (47%);
  • Upgrading air filters or air conditioning equipment (49%);
  • Altering the workplace with physical dividers (45%).

"SMEs continue to exhibit great resourcefulness, flexibility and initiative in responding to the pandemic and the Delta variant," said Rajat Bhargava, ceo of JumpCloud. "As an SME ourselves, we know the current conditions are extremely fluid, and like the majority of respondents, we had to rethink and delay our office return and hybrid workplace options."

Written by Rachel Miller.

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