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5 Ways Your Business Is Breaking Employment Law

5 Ways Your Business Is Breaking Employment Law

Navigating the legal process is a struggle for big businesses. They have to hire teams of lawyers just to protect themselves against the legal ramifications of doing business. For small businesses, it’s a nightmare. A lot of the time, they don’t even realise that they are breaking the law.

One big problem area right now is employment law. Thousands of businesses are employing new staff for the first time every year. And many of them are breaking the law. When they get it wrong, the consequences can be serious

In this post, we’re going to look at how employers are breaking the law and what they can do about it.

You’re Not Providing For Disability

Ever since the 1950s, we’ve seen more and more legislation designed to protect vulnerable people in the workplace. This now includes people with disabilities. Employers now have a legal duty to provide people with disabilities access to their buildings. They also have a duty to adjust facilities for people who have specific problems. For example, businesses are expected to provide an ergonomic keyboard for somebody who has arthritis. Employment law solicitors stress how important it is that good employers respect all employee rights. If employees or visitors feel victimised on your premises, firms are breaking the law.

You’re Not Paying The National Living Wage

Don’t be fooled by the name. The so-called national “living wage” is just another way of saying minimum wage. And as a result, your business is required by law to pay it to all staff that you employ.

The living wage of £7.20 per hour came into effect back in April and applies to all those aged 25 or over. What’s more, that living wage is set to rise to more than £9 per hour by the year 2020. And so that means that businesses are going to have to start preparing now for higher labour costs in the future.

You Require Exclusivity In Zero Hour Contracts

Employers like zero-hour contracts because it helps them avoid taking on staff formally. But until January this year, employers wanted it both ways. They wanted workers on zero-hour contracts. But they also wanted those workers to dedicate all their time to their business. This has now been banned. Companies are no longer allowed to have exclusivity clauses in their zero hour contracts. What’s more, employees can now claim unfair dismissal from day one.

You Aren’t Auto-enrolling

Up until this year, only companies with more than 30 employees had to auto-enrol their employees on pension schemes. But now the government is forcing even small companies to do the same. Not doing so is in breach of employment law.

You’re Not Allowing 28 Days Paid Holiday

The law as it stands right now demands that employers allow each of their staff at least 28 days paid holiday per year. But many small businesses are not abiding by the law. As businesses start up, they require people to be working almost every day. And this can lead them into serious trouble and land them some hefty fines.

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