How to Calculate Holiday Entitlement for Zero-Hour Contract Employees
Calculating holiday entitlement for zero-hour contract employees can seem complicated, especially if you do not deal with it regularly. Unlike full-time staff, zero-hour employees do not have fixed hours, so their holiday entitlement must be worked out based on the hours they actually work.
Handling Sick Leave and Grievances During Disciplinary Action
Starting a disciplinary process is a serious step for any employer. It helps maintain standards and protect your business, but it often triggers additional challenges. Two of the most common issues SMEs face during disciplinary action are employees going off sick and employees raising a grievance. These situations can complicate matters if not handled correctly. In this article, we explain what these actions mean and outline the steps you should take to keep your process fair, compliant, and on track.
Redundancy Explained: Why It’s About the Role, Not the Person
Redundancy is one of the most misunderstood areas of UK employment law. Many business owners and managers believe redundancy is linked to an individual’s performance, but that is incorrect. Redundancy is about the role, not the person. Understanding this distinction is essential for SMEs to avoid costly mistakes and legal claims, especially as businesses face rapid change and technological disruption.
Flexible Working Requests: Why Every Employee Can Ask From Day One
Did you know that any employee can request flexible working from their very first day in a role? This is one of the most significant changes to UK employment law in recent years, introduced in April 2024. For SMEs, this means you need to be ready to handle requests immediately, even during onboarding.
How to Protect Your Business When Hosting Staff Christmas Events
Staff Christmas events are a great way to celebrate achievements and boost team morale. Whether it’s a party, lunch, or alternative activity, these occasions can strengthen relationships and show appreciation for your team. However, they also carry risks for employers.
FREE Excel Staff Holiday Entitlement Calculator
Calculating holiday entitlement can be confusing, especially when you have a mix of full-time and part-time employees, or when staff join or leave mid-year. Getting it wrong can lead to compliance issues and unhappy employees. That’s why we’ve created a FREE, easy-to-use Excel spreadsheet to help you calculate holiday entitlement accurately.
ACAS Early Conciliation Extension: Key Insights for SMEs
The ACAS early conciliation extension, expected to take effect from December 2025, will increase the maximum period from 6 weeks to 12 weeks. This proposed change aims to give employers and employees more time to resolve workplace disputes before they escalate to employment tribunal claims.
DSARs and Employee Data Requests: What They Are and How to Respond
DSARs are becoming a common feature of employment law processes, particularly where grievances, disciplinary action, or disputes are involved. This guide explains what a DSAR is, why employees submit them, and how to respond correctly and confidently, especially when the request relates to HR matters.
Employment Law Essentials 2026 FREE Workshop – 10th February 2026
Major reforms are on the way through the Employment Rights Bill and related legislation. This 90-minute session will highlight what’s changing, when it’s happening, and how it will affect your business. You’ll leave with a clear understanding of the 2025 employment law landscape and practical steps to prepare your policies, contracts, and processes.
Planning Your Work Christmas Party: Ideas for Office-Based and Remote Teams
We have put together some ideas of different types of office Christmas party ideas you can use for your office-based or remote team.
When AI Becomes Your Employees’ HR Advisor
AI tools like ChatGPT are changing how employees communicate in the workplace. What used to be a short email or informal note is now often a detailed, structured and persuasive document. Employees are using AI to assist them in writing grievances, disciplinary responses and appeals.
Effective 1-2-1s and Difficult Conversations Workshop – 7th October 2025
This interactive session is designed to help managers get the most out of their 1-2-1s and feel more confident when tackling challenging conversations.