What’s the correct procedure for carrying out a disciplinary process?
To ensure fairness and legal compliance, you should:
Follow the ACAS Code of Practice.
Carry out a fair investigation.
Invite the employee to a disciplinary hearing with sufficient notice.
Allow the right to be accompanied.
Confirm any outcomes in writing, including the right to appeal.
Getting the process wrong can result in costly claims. A Haus of HR consultant can manage the entire process or coach your managers through it step by step.
What’s the difference between an employee and a self-employed contractor?
The distinction is crucial for tax, rights and liability. Employees have full employment rights, while genuine contractors do not. Key tests include:
Control over how and when work is done
Obligation to accept work
Provision of own equipment and tools
Misclassification can lead to tribunal claims and HMRC penalties. The Haus of HR team can assess your current workforce setup to ensure you’re correctly classifying roles.
What are my obligations around holiday entitlement for employees?
Under the Working Time Regulations 1998, full-time employees are entitled to a minimum of 5.6 weeks (28 days) of paid holiday per year, which can include bank holidays. Part-time employees are entitled to the same on a pro-rata basis.
You must also ensure holiday pay reflects normal pay, including overtime or commission where applicable. Haus of HR can review your holiday policies to ensure they’re legally compliant and clearly communicated to your team.
Am I required to provide maternity leave and pay?
Yes. Eligible employees are entitled to up to 52 weeks of maternity leave – 26 weeks of Ordinary Maternity Leave and 26 weeks of Additional Maternity Leave. Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) is available for up to 39 weeks, provided eligibility criteria are met.
You must also avoid any form of discrimination related to pregnancy or maternity. The Haus of HR team can help ensure your policies and practices fully support both compliance and a positive employee experience.
Good Business Charter
We're proud to be accredited by the Good Business Charter. The GBC consists of 10 components and more details for each of these components can be found on their website: www.goodbusinesscharter.com.
Let’s throw HR jargon into room 101!
For straight talking HR solutions to elevate your business growth, get in touch with us to find out more. Book a free HR consultation with our Founder, Rachel Collar.