smallbusiness.co.uk: Helping your business think big

Deciding on your financing needs

Last month, we looked at whether the banks really were...
Have your say »

RSS

Guides & Tips

Clock on to short-time working

If waiting to reduce staff overheads is something you can no longer afford to delay, short-time working could be a way to save money without letting employees go

Guide to your rights and duties as an employer

In general terms, apart from what is in the employment contract, what can you expect from your employees and what can they expect from you?

Guide to dismissal and disciplinary rules

When the need arises to take disciplinary action against an employee you must follow the standard three-step dismissal and disciplinary procedure.

The rules of redundancy

If you are purchasing a business and do not need to employ all of the current staff, are you able to let them go by law? Carolyn Mumby from Employment Law Essentials answers this tricky question.

Guide to sacking an employee

Like it or not, there may come a time when you have to dismiss an employee and this guide shows you the best and most painless way of accomplishing this unpleasant task.

Legal life-cycle of an employee

There are certain obligations and rules that an employer must be aware of at various times during an employee's working life. These are laid out in full here.

Don't Miss

Modern graduates face a highly competitive job market

First-class employees

Attracting the best graduate to your company is easier if you show an understanding of their journey from higher education to workplace.

Seven ways to beat stress

Michael Jackson, chairman of leading technology venture capitalist Elderstreet Investments, gives SmallBusiness.co.uk his tips for dealing with stress.

Making staff cuts doesn't mean you have to give people the axe.

Reducing salary

There are other ways of reducing your staffing budget without having to take the axe to your workforce.

Employing Staff News

'National sickie day' will see an estimated 400,000 absentees

Duvet day for 400,000

‘National Sickie Day’ will cost UK businesses more than £34 million, a business support specialist predicts.

Duvet day for 400,000

‘National Sickie Day’ will cost UK businesses more than £34 million, a business support specialist predicts.

Nameless CVs for fairer hiring

Businesses should encourage all job applicants to send in CVs that do not identify their name or ethnic background, says an employment law specialist.

TUC rallies against tribunal fees

Introducing fees to take claims to employment tribunals could be a huge barrier to equality at work, says the Trades Union Congress.

Jobs market to remain unstable in 2012

Unemployment has hit a 17-year high of 8.4 per cent, finds data.

Higher education not developing work skills

A fifth of UK employers believe school leavers make better employees than university graduates.

Forum supports education-level skills boost

The Forum of Private Business has welcomed government plans to improve how IT is taught in UK schools to better prepare young people for work.

Workers 'underused and demotivated' by lack of support

The underuse of skills in the UK is resulting in lost productivity both for businesses and the economy as a whole, argues a think tank.

Youth employment scheme backed by lobbying group

The Confederation of British Industry has formally backed the government's £1 billion Youth Contract programme aimed at ensuring ‘every young person in the UK is in education or employment’.

Employee pay rewards stagnant in 2011

The majority of company staff saw their pay packets remain static or shrink in 2011.

Employment opportunities on the rise

Job opportunities were 17 per cent higher in December compared to the same period in 2010 and more than a fifth higher than two years ago, according to the latest Reed Job Index.

The FT Guide to Personal Tax is published by Pearson Education. Written by Sara Williams, CEO of Vitesse Media Plc and John Bloxham, this unique guide gives step-by-step advice to completing your tax return as well as over 230 tax-saving tips.

Growth Company Investor

Growth Company Investor is widely recognised as the leading magazine for investors interested in AIM and smallcap companies. Published 10 times per year, and brought to you by an award-winning analyst team, it offers subscribers unrivalled insight into high-potential smaller companies. Subscribe today with a 50% discount in your first year.

FT Guide to Business Start Up

The FT Guide to Business Start Up 2012, published by Pearson Education, is written by Sara Williams, CEO of Vitesse Media Plc. This unique guide has sold over two million copies. It offers practical advice about starting and running your own business.

What Investment

What Investment is the leading and longest-established investment magazine in the UK.

Regular Small Business newsletters
Access to all our experts in the Q & A forum
Post comments on articles

Employment rights Questions & Answers

Register or login to ask a question to our panel of experts...

Entrepreneurship

Ed Percival, Shirlaws Binfield

Advice for employers

Peter Done, Peninsula

Human Resources

Cecily Lalloo, Embrace HR

48 posts

Latest questions answered

Q: Final warnings Q: Am I entitled to sick pay? Q: Advice on toilet and washroom facilities Q: Will I be able to dismiss an unproductive member of staff? Q: Smokers' rights Q: Working from home while signed off sick Q: Smoking breaks at work

FREE Legal, Financial, Accountancy & HR Help

Aska Professional understands the challenges faced by small businesses. That’s why we provide instant access to professional advice and legal templates. FREE access to Solicitors, Accountants, Financial Advisors & HR Specialists. Ask our experts a question and get a personal response within 60 minutes. Sign up now to ask a question - FREE.

Bupa for Businesses

We understand that all businesses are different. To help you choose the right healthcare package for you and your employees, call us today on 08457 66 11 15 or alternatively find out more here.

Hiscox business insurance for small & medium businesses

Hiscox offer specialist business insurance for office based professionals and consultants. Hiscox understand's every business is different and work hard to understand the specific risks small businesses face, so you can choose insurance to suit your individual business needs. Find out which business insurance is suitable for you.

Blogs

Winners and losers

Ben Lobel 24/01/2012

It seems that despite the government’s assurance that the Olympics will provide a long-lasting economic legacy for the UK, businesses remain unconvinced. Have your say »

Deciding on your financing needs

Small Business Finance 06/12/2011

Rory Earley, CEO of Capital for Enterprise, looks at the ramifications of getting a bank loan to fund growth opportunities. Have your say »

Winning new business in 2012

Guest Blogger 02/02/2012

Shaun Thompson, CEO of Sandler Training, explains how growth is possible in frugal times. Have your say »

Employment rights Resource Centre

Small Business HR

Peninsula offers a small business service which includes advice on employment law for small businesses.

Cleveland & Co Solicitors

Specialists in Employment Law, Discrimination and Employment Tribunal Proceedings. Please contact us for professional quality advice and representation. Visit Cleveland & Co Solicitors or email info@clevelandsolicitors.com

Health for Work Adviceline for Small Business

Free NHS Adviceline helps employers minimise the impact of staff illness and provide essential support to staff with physical and mental health issues. Visit our Health for Work website

Flexible Skills Bank

Tap in to this pool of professionals looking for flexible, or ad hoc work to fit in with their family commitments.

Free law firm comparison site

TakeLegalAdvice.com is a free online search and comparison service to locate the most suitable lawyers, both locally and internationally, to handle your client case.

Guidance for employment matters

The Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform provides extensive information on employment matters.

Apply for flexible working hours

This site provides an overview to flexible working and work-life balance.

The Disability Discrimination act

This website provides information about the Disability Discrimination Act and real-life stories and tips for small to medium-sized employers.

Recruiting disabled staff

This site by the Department for Work and Pensions provides information and advice on recruiting disabled staff.

Better employment relations

ACAS offers extensive information, advice as well as problem resolution services with the aim of improving employment relations.

Rights of employees

Any information on the rights of employees, can be found on this part of the Directgov website.

More Employment rights Resources

Other Employing Staff Resources

Polls

Video

Selling on eBay

Ebay trader Chris Dawson gives his tips to selling through the trading website.

Compare Insurance quotes for Employers Liability

Employers’ Liability insurance covers you and your business against claims from employees injured at work or taken ill as a result of working for you. Compare Insurance quotes for Employers Liability to ensure your business can cover claims without compromising its financial stability.