The UK has a lot of employment laws to which employers need to adhere.

5 Things You are Required to do as an Employer in the UK

There are minimum standards for items such as sick pay, holiday, and maternity leave. This article looks at the top 5 things you are required to do as an employer in the UK.

1. Duty of care

The duty of care in the employment context means you should take all reasonable steps to prevent foreseeable physical and psychological harm to your employees.

It’s pretty much a given that if you employ someone, you have a responsibility to look after them – both in the immediate term as well as looking after their long-term health and welfare.

In practice, it means that you have a duty to ensure that your employee’s health, safety, and welfare are not being neglected. If an employee is subject to stress in the workplace or is unhappy because of their workload, this could amount to a breach of the duty of care.

2. Contract of employment

The contract of employment is an agreement between an employer and employee detailing the terms and conditions of their relationship.

These formal employment agreements ensure that there are no misunderstandings about the working conditions and expectations both parties expect from each other.

It typically must include details on various aspects, including hours of work, holiday entitlement, pay, sickness absence procedure, disciplinary procedures (and their consequences), grievance procedure (and their consequences), and various other key employment matters.

3. Right to work

It is a legal requirement for all employers in the UK to ensure that their employees have the right to work in the country. The rules are monitored by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI), Home Office, and HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).

Also, from January 1, 2021, all EU citizens moving to the UK for employment are required to obtain a visa in order to be able to work. This is also true for nationals of the European Economic Area Switzerland.

4. Employers’ liability insurance

Employer’s liability insurance by law is a must-have by anyone who employs staff, not just as an employer but also when working as a self-employed person or in partnership.

It’s a legal requirement of the Employers’ Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Act 1969 and is in place to protect both employers and employees. It offers you protection against legal liabilities and claims that an employee may bring against the business for injuries sustained in the course of their employment.

5. National minimum wage

Fair pay is a legal requirement of employment in the UK, and employers must make sure that workers are not underpaid.

National minimum wage (NMW) is the minimum pay per hour almost all workers are entitled to by law. It applies to all workers, whether part-time or full-time, temporary or permanent, young or old. There are different rates for different types of work.

On a final note, as an employer, you must ensure your workers are provided with a written statement of particulars within two months of employment.

Having a contractual agreement also means arrangements can be made in writing that would otherwise not be enforceable in law.

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