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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.

Study finds working from home increases productivity

26 April 2022

A growing number of employers have reported increased productivity as they embrace home and hybrid working, according to new research.

The number of employers who say that an increase in homeworking has increased their organisation's productivity or efficiency has jumped significantly over the past year, according to new research from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD).

The research, based on a survey of over 1,000 employers and 2,000 employees, shows how organisations and individuals are now approaching hybrid and flexible ways of working as businesses look to live with COVID. In November 2021, 41% of employers said homeworking had increased their organisation's productivity or efficiency - significantly up from 33% who said the same in December 2020.

At the same time, the number of employers that say the increase in home and hybrid working has had a negative impact on their organisation's productivity has fallen to 18%, down from 23% a year before.

Despite the reported productivity improvements associated with home and hybrid working, one in four employers still want their employees to be in the office/on site all the time, while 39% of employees would like to work from home all or most of the time going forward.

One reason for this mismatch could be the fact that 63% of employees who can work in a hybrid way still haven't been asked about their future working preferences. With increasing numbers of employees heading back to workplaces for at least part of the working week, IPSE has said that employers must "consult and collaborate with their people" when designing hybrid working practices.

The CIPD also says that a day-one right to request flexible working would boost the number of people using flexible working arrangements - such as part-time working, compressed hours or job shares - and has been calling for this change through its #FlexFrom1st campaign since February 2021. Currently, employees must have been in their role for six months before they can request flexible working.

Claire McCartney, CIPD senior policy adviser for resourcing and inclusion, said: "It's great that many employers are embracing the benefits of more hybrid and flexible ways of working. However, it's really important that they work collaboratively with employees to find solutions that work for both the organisation and individuals. This is a crucial moment for flexible working, but a mismatch on expectations and an ad hoc approach could set back progress.

"Everyone should have the chance to benefit from more choice about when, where and how they work. This can lead to increased wellbeing and engagement, and enhanced performance, all of which can lead to the productivity gains many employers are reporting."

Written by Rachel Miller.

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