UK Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) 2026: Eligibility, Amount & Rules
Section A: What is Statutory Sick Pay? Statutory Sick Pay is the legal minimum sick pay that UK employers are required to provide when an employee is unable to work due to illness. It operates as a statutory baseline rather than a discretionary benefit and applies regardless of sector or workforce size. For […]
Gig Workers UK: Employer Legal Risks & Compliance 2026
The fast-growing gig economy is changing how UK organisations source labour and specialist expertise. For employers, “gig working” can feel like a commercially efficient model: flexible resourcing, fewer fixed costs and faster access to skills. The legal position is more complicated. In UK law, the label “gig worker” has no fixed meaning. What matters is […]
Term Time Working UK: Employer Guide 2026
Term time working is a form of flexible working where an employee works during school or academic terms and does not work during school holidays. Although most commonly associated with education and local authority roles, term time working is increasingly being adopted across private sector organisations where operational demand aligns with school calendars or where […]
Can an Employer Withhold Pay? UK Legal Guide 2026
In the UK, an employer can only withhold pay in strictly limited circumstances. The starting point under UK employment law is that workers are entitled to be paid the wages properly due to them as part of the fundamental bargain in an employment contract. If an employer withholds pay without lawful authority, this will usually […]
Shift Allowance UK 2026: Legal Rules & Employer Guide
Shift allowance UK arrangements are widely used across industries that operate beyond standard daytime hours. From healthcare and logistics to manufacturing, retail and emergency services, many employers rely on rotating shifts, night work and weekend cover to maintain operational continuity. While paying a shift allowance is not a statutory requirement in the UK, the legal […]
Employee Shareholder Status (2026): Rights & Risks
An individual’s employment status affects both their statutory rights and your risk exposure as an employer. Employee shareholder status is a specific legal status where an individual remains an employee but is issued shares in the employing company (or its parent) in return for giving up certain statutory employment rights. What this article is about: […]
Leap Year Pay UK: Must Employers Pay More?
Paying employees correctly is a fundamental legal obligation under UK employment law. Even a small payroll miscalculation can expose an employer to claims for unlawful deduction of wages, breach of contract or regulatory enforcement under minimum wage legislation. For employer-facing guidance on pay compliance and risk, see our wider resources on employment law and pay […]
Overtime UK: Rules, Pay & 48-Hour Limits 2026
Overtime refers to the additional time employees work beyond their standard contracted hours. In workforce management terms, overtime helps employers meet operational demands, especially during peak periods or when deadlines are approaching, or to alleviate staffing issues. However, managing overtime requires careful consideration of legal regulations, employee wellbeing and cost implications. This guide provides UK […]
Overtime Tax UK: Is Overtime Taxed More? 2026
Overtime tax is one of the most misunderstood aspects of payroll management in the UK. Employees frequently believe overtime is “taxed more”, while employers and HR teams face recurring queries about fluctuating deductions, tax codes and National Insurance. In reality, overtime is not subject to a special tax rate. It is treated as ordinary earnings […]
Voluntary Overtime Pay: UK Legal Guide 2026
Voluntary overtime pay can appear straightforward: an employee works extra hours and is paid for them. In practice, however, voluntary overtime sits at the intersection of contract law, working time limits, holiday pay rules, minimum wage compliance and discrimination protection. Employers who treat overtime as a simple payroll matter risk creating unintended contractual rights or […]