| If you are running a company the first thing you need | | | | Your workplace would also not be compliant unless |
| to be abreast of is employment law. Running a | | | | you had anti discrimination laws in place. This is fairly |
| company means many things, but most of all it means | | | | standard in today's business arena, but it bears |
| you have obligations to your workers as they have | | | | repeating in case you have any questions. It is illegal to |
| responsibilities and obligations to you. That being said | | | | discriminate based on gender, sexuality, race, religious |
| however, this is not always the easiest thing to keep a | | | | belief or disability. In total, there are some eight Acts |
| tab on. It is not like there are just one or two | | | | and Regulations that deal with this area of |
| employment laws. Unfortunately there are enough to fill | | | | employment law. In an ideal work world, it would be a |
| a book, but we can not get into all of them here. | | | | good idea to have a copy of all the applicable act and |
| However, we will cover some of the major ones. | | | | regulations, or have someone on your staff that |
| The first thing is you would best make sure you are | | | | knows them inside out. |
| paying your staff at least the minimum wage. Minimum | | | | Discrimination laws also cover the fairly new areas of |
| wages to be paid are required by the National | | | | paternity leave and adoption rights. Maternity leave has |
| Minimum Wage Act (1998), and the National Minimum | | | | been a cornerstone of legislation for numerous years. |
| Wage Regulations (1999). The acts set out what you | | | | The Acts and Regulations governing these areas lay |
| can pay your workers depending on their age (under | | | | out the length of time allowed for maternity, paternity |
| 18, under 21 or over 21). The top wage currently set for | | | | and adoption leave, plus how much will be paid out |
| an employee that is over 21 years of age is | | | | while said employee(s) are on leave. There are other |
| £5.52 an hour. These things change yearly so | | | | circumstances covered in this legislation, such as |
| always make sure to stay on top of the changes, or | | | | extending the leave and under what circumstances, |
| run the risk of running afoul of the law. | | | | not to mention the right to return to work and when. |
| You will also find another act that applies directly to | | | | There is a lot of ground to cover in this area of |
| your employees. The Working Time Regulations (1998) | | | | employment law and it would be in your own best |
| among other things lays out how much rest your | | | | interests to make sure you are up-to-date with the |
| workers are allowed. It addresses holiday leave as | | | | rules and regulations. Failing that, if your human |
| well, as in how much time they are entitled to for the | | | | resources officers have the training in this area, you |
| year. | | | | can rely on them for current information. |