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

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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.

Graphic designer legal issues

There are several pieces of legislation that apply to graphic designers. They cover areas such as copyrighting and design regulations.

What licences does a graphic designer need?

There are no licensing requirements relating specifically to graphic designers.

Be aware though that data protection legislation may require businesses which keep computerised records of individuals' personal details to register with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO). If this applies to your business and you are not covered by an exemption you will have to pay a small fee to register. You can find out more on the ICO website.

What legislation applies to graphic designers?

Some of the key areas where legislation is likely to affect your business are listed below. The list is not intended to be exhaustive.

Copyright matters

Copyright legislation is in place to protect the work that you create and prevents you from using other people's work without their authorisation. In many cases you may be prepared to assign your rights in your original work to your client or license them to use it while retaining ownership. This is something to be agreed between you and your client and should be clearly set out in any contract between you. If you have employees you should make clear in their contract of employment that the copyright of any work they produce belongs to you, their employer.

It's important to familiarise yourself with the law so that you are aware of your own and others' rights. The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) is responsible for intellectual property matters in the UK. The IPO section of the Gov.uk website includes detailed information and guidance on copyright matters.

Regulations affecting design

When you design a letterhead, promotional material or other business stationery for a company (whether in hard copy or digital format) remember that certain company details must by law be included on things like letterheads, order forms and other formal documents as well as on the company's website. You can find out more on the Gov.uk website.

Also be aware of the requirements of the equality and anti-discrimination laws if you are designing websites, in terms of accessibility for people with a disability. You can find out more about designing accessible websites and web tools on the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) website.

If you do work for food manufacturers and producers it makes sense to familiarise yourself with the requirements of the various food labelling regulations. Visit the Food Standards Agency website for details.

Employment legislation

Anyone employing staff must comply with employment legislation. Important areas of legislation include recruitment, employment contracts, pay, working hours, holidays, employment policies, sickness, maternity, paternity, discrimination, discipline, grievances, dismissals, redundancies and employment tribunals.

Health & Safety, fire

You must make sure that you comply with health and safety and fire safety legislation.

Insurance for a graphic designer

When you start up in business you will need insurance cover. Contact an insurer and explain how your business will operate. They will then be able to recommend what cover you should have which might include:

  • employer's liability
  • public liability
  • professional indemnity insurance
  • legal costs associated with protection of own copyright and with defending against claims by others that their copyright has been breached
  • premises, premises contents
  • personal accident and travel
  • loss of earnings
  • motor insurance

The Chartered Society of Designers (CSD) has negotiated preferential rates on customised professional indemnity insurance for its members. The CSD also offers members access to specialist legal advice on protecting IP rights and assistance with copyright disputes. You can find out more about this and other membership benefits on the CSD website.

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