Articles and guides
Practical guidance on employment law, HR policies, pay and people management for UK employers, written by the Bespoke HR team and kept up to date.
TopicAll articles
All articles Policies and procedures 44 Recruitment 41 Employment law 37 Pay and benefits 25 Performance and appraisals 23 Wellbeing 21 Company culture 21 Learning and development 13 Remote working 12 Outsourced HR 11 Sickness and absence 8 Retention 8
Formats
Free templates 19 Case studies 12 Training events 3188 articles, page 2 of 16
Data Subject Access Request FREE Workshop – 10th June 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. 
Password Security for SMEs: It Starts with People Password security for SMEs is often seen as an IT issue. In reality, effective password management for SMEs is largely a matter of people, awareness, and clear policy.
In many small and medium sized businesses, password practices develop informally over time. Shared logins, reused passwords, and inconsistent access control may feel efficient in the moment, but they create avoidable risk. 
Unfair Dismissal Qualifying Period Reducing to Six Months in 2027 From 1 January 2027, the unfair dismissal qualifying period in the UK will reduce from two years to six months under the Employment Rights Act 2025. This is one of the most significant recent UK employment law changes affecting unfair dismissal rights. 
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. 
Holiday Entitlement Calculator: Free Excel Download A free Excel calculator that works out holiday entitlement in hours for full-time and part-time staff, new starters, leavers and zero hours workers, with the rules explained. 
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.