The last thing that many small entrepreneurs think of when they have a great idea and set up their business is about the range of legal rights and protection that their future employees will be entitled to. Few small businesses have a HR Function. There used to be Personnel and now there are Human Resources, which can be quite a significant department in larger organisations.
Smaller businesses will find it difficult to keep up with changes and developments in employment legislation and in most cases may not be aware of issues until an issue arises.
Employment Law covers legal rights and obligations of employers and employees in the following areas, among others
- Discrimination: Age discrimination, race and religious discrimination and sex and sexual orientation discrimination; employment of disabled people and physical access rights
- Pay and employment rights: equal pay, maternity and paternal pay and leave rights
- Appointment and Dismissal: Employment contracts, Terms and conditions, Working time, Transfer of Undertakings dismissal and redundancy
- Staff Well Being and Conflict resolution: health and safety, discipline and grievance, bullying and harassment,
- Data Protection
There are employment law issues employers will need to know before they appoint staff in the first instance, but as they grow there needs to be someone within the business to take overall responsibility for primary employment functions, though they may well buy-in expertise when needed.