Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act 2015

The Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act 2015 is a wide-ranging piece of UK legislation designed to support business growth while strengthening the enforcement of employment rights. Although the Act is not limited to employment law, several of its provisions have direct and ongoing relevance for employers, HR professionals and business owners managing staff in […]
Zero Hour Contract: UK Employer 2026 Legal Guide

Part-time, casual and flexible working arrangements are now a permanent feature of the UK labour market. One of the most common, and most misunderstood, of these arrangements is the zero hour contract. For employers, zero hour contracts can provide a practical way to manage fluctuating demand, seasonal work or short-term staffing needs. For workers, they […]
Less Favourable Treatment of Part-Time Workers

Part-time working is a well-established feature of the UK labour market, offering flexibility for both employers and workers. However, employing part-time staff carries specific legal responsibilities, particularly around ensuring they are not treated less favourably than comparable full-time workers. Failures in this area can expose employers to employment tribunal claims, reputational risk and avoidable management […]
Comparable Full-Time Worker in UK Employment Law

Part-time working is a common feature of the modern UK workforce, particularly across professional services, retail, healthcare and administrative roles. While flexible working arrangements can benefit both employers and employees, they also introduce specific legal obligations that businesses must understand and manage carefully. One of the most important, and often misunderstood, concepts in part-time worker […]
Employee Relations: UK Law & Best Practice 2026

Effective employee relations benefit organisational culture, morale and performance. Employee relations are the relationships between employers and employees. These relationships influence how employers handle issues such as pay and benefits, managing conflict, supporting a healthy work-life balance, and maintaining fair working conditions. Organisations that manage employee relations effectively are more likely to achieve higher levels […]
Benefits of Zero Hour Contracts for Employers

A zero-hours contract is an agreement between an employer and an individual where the employer does not guarantee to provide a set number of working hours and only pays for the work actually undertaken. In practice, this means the employer does not have to give the individual work, and they are not obliged to accept […]
What Is a Part-Time Worker? UK Employment Law

Employers often assume that part-time working is a straightforward concept, defined simply by reduced hours. In practice, the legal position is more nuanced. UK employment law does not set a fixed number of hours that determines whether someone is a part-time or full-time worker. Instead, part-time status is assessed by reference to an individual’s normal […]
Employment Law for Part-Time Workers UK

Part-time working is a long-established and widely used feature of the UK labour market. Many employers rely on part-time staff to manage fluctuating demand, retain experienced workers, or support flexible working arrangements. While part-time working can offer clear operational benefits, it also carries specific legal obligations that employers must understand and apply consistently. UK employment […]
Part-time Workers Regulations 2000 Explained

Part-time working is a permanent feature of the UK labour market, used across sectors to meet both business needs and employee preferences. While flexibility can bring operational advantages, it also carries legal risk if part-time workers are treated less favourably than their full-time counterparts without lawful justification. The Part-time Workers (Prevention of Less Favourable Treatment) […]
How Many Hours is Part Time? 2026 Guide

Part-time work has become increasingly common in the UK as both employers and employees seek greater flexibility in their work arrangements. The trend is driven by diverse factors, including the growing importance of work-life balance, the rise of the gig economy and changing workforce demographics. For employers, the challenges when dealing with part-time hours include […]