Fixed Term Contract of Employment: UK Law Explained 2026

A fixed term contract is one of the most commonly used employment structures in the UK, yet it remains one of the most misunderstood from a legal risk perspective. Many employers assume that because a contract has an end date, the legal obligations attached to it are lighter. In reality, the opposite is often true. […]
Types of Employment Contracts UK: 2026 Guide

An employment contract defines the legal relationship between an organisation and the individuals who work for it. The type of contract used determines not only how work is structured, but also which statutory rights apply, how tax is handled, how dismissal risk is assessed and where compliance exposure sits. In UK law, understanding the types […]
Permanent Contract UK: Meaning, Rights & Law 2026

A permanent contract is the most common form of employment contract used in the UK. It is an open-ended agreement between an employer and an employee with no fixed end date. While the term “permanent” is widely used in recruitment and HR practice, it does not mean guaranteed employment for life. Instead, it describes an […]
Employment Contract UK: 2026 Employer Guide

An employment contract is the legal foundation of the working relationship between an employer and an employee. It governs pay, duties, working time, benefits, termination rights and the obligations each party owes to the other. In practice, most disputes about dismissal, holiday pay, restrictive covenants or breach of contract can be traced back to how […]
Temporary Contract UK 2026: Rights, Redundancy & Risks

A temporary contract is a common tool in UK workforce planning, but it is also an area where employers often get caught out by assumptions. The headline risk is simple: calling an arrangement “temporary” does not reduce statutory rights. In many cases, what HR teams describe as a temporary contract is, in law, a fixed-term […]
Written Statement of Employment Particulars

One of the fundamental employment rights in the UK is that employees and workers are provided with a written statement of employment particulars no later than the first day of employment. This requirement is set out in section 1 of the Employment Rights Act 1996. The employer is required to give the principal statement on […]
Employee Handbook UK: Employers Guide 2026

An employee handbook sits at the intersection of employment law, operational control and risk management. While UK law does not explicitly require most employers to maintain a handbook, tribunals, regulators and ACAS routinely treat it as a central source of evidence when assessing how an employer manages people, enforces standards and complies with statutory duties. […]
IR35 Changes 2026: What’s New, Who’s Affected & Next Steps

The IR35 changes have fundamentally altered how UK employers engage contractors and manage off-payroll working arrangements. While IR35 is a tax regime rather than an employment law framework, the reforms now sit squarely within the remit of HR, finance and senior leadership, carrying material compliance, cost and reputational risk for businesses that get them wrong. […]
NDAs: How to Use Employment Non Disclosure Agreements

A Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) is a legal contract used to protect sensitive or confidential information from being shared or misused. NDAs are commonly used by UK employers when disclosing proprietary business information to employees, contractors or third parties. The agreement sets out the terms under which information can be shared and the restrictions on its […]
Legal Implications of Working Two Jobs

The growth of side jobs and portfolio working, especially given economic pressures and changing work culture, means that employers are increasingly likely to encounter staff with secondary work. While not necessarily unlawful, this can create a number of legal, operational and reputational considerations. In this guide for employers, we explain the practical and legal implications […]