First published on Tuesday, April 19, 2022
Last updated on Thursday, February 20, 2025
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Employment laws in the UK don’t just exist for the protection of workers, but for the rights of employers too. Having the knowledge of current UK employment laws could save you from costly legal disputes and reputational damage. All while ensuring that your workplace provides proper working conditions, pay and benefits for your staff.
Read on to discover the laws you should know and don’t hesitate to get in touch for immediate advice from our HR experts if you’re stuck dealing with a current employment law issue.
The role of employment law
Over the last century employment laws have developed significantly. Before their existence, there was very little in the way of legal protection for employees in the workplace.
The Employment Protection Act 1975, for example, introduced laws around unfair dismissals, pay for maternity leave and redundancy. The act helped to lay the foundations of our modern employment laws and worker’s rights in the UK.
With the key purpose of employment law to protect employees from unfair treatment at work and to regulate the relationships between employers and employees. Having these in place is positive for all parties.
Who is protected and why?
Both employers and employees are protected under current legislation. Helping to create functional and professional workplaces where both employer and employee can benefit.
By adhering to the law, as an employer, you can ensure that your HR processes, business systems and operations provide a fair working environment for all.
The employment laws every employer should know
A current list of key employment laws, that set a precedence for how workplaces should be run in the UK, include:
Employment Rights Act 1996
Employment Relations Act 1999
National Minimum Wage Act 1998
Maternity and Parental Leave etc. Regulations 1999
Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006
Part-Time Workers (Prevention of Less Favourable Treatment) Regulations 2000
Agency Workers Regulations 2010
Employment Relations (Flexible Working) Act 2023
Working Time Regulations 1998
Other legislation exists which provides further details on specific legal requirements such as offering carer's leave under the Carer’s Leave Act 2023 or the Data Protection Act 2018 which must be applied within all businesses handling and processing the data of individuals.
Enforcing employment laws
However, while the government introduces laws such as these, they usually don’t enforce employment law. So, it’s no use calling 999 on an employee for breaching their employment contract, for example.
Of course, if gross misconduct has occurred and an employee has committed a criminal offence, such as theft, then it may be time for the criminal justice system to step in.
In any other case, employment law is dealt with by the individuals themselves, on a case-by-case basis. In some instances, disputes between employers and employees will go to an employment tribunal where a solicitors would step in as a representatives.
When cases escalate, government bodies such as HMRC, HSE, or the EAS regulate their specialist areas. For example, the HSE can fine businesses that fail to adhere to the Health & Safety Work Act, whether that’s by failing an audit or as a result of an injury or even fatality in the workplace.
How to stay HR compliant
As a business owner or manager, it is very important to adhere to these employment laws.
To guarantee HR compliance, policies and procedures must be in place across your business. This may include outlining details of your legal responsibilities in employee handbooks, contractual documentation, and HR policies. Plus, providing the necessary training for managers and HR teams to guarantee all stakeholders within the organisation are aware of current employment laws and are kept up to date with amendments.
You may also seek the legal advice of HR experts for greater clarity regarding your legal duties.
Ensure legal compliance with BrightHR
With BrightHR’s HR software and expert employment law advice you are provided with the tools you need to ensure compliance with UK employment legislation.
By automating workflows and digitalising HR processes such as automatic annual leave calculations, reminders for workplace audits, and providing a complete overview of employee hours, HR software not only saves your business time and money but also reduces the risk of human error.
When handling people management and employment law there’s little room for mistakes. So, by arming yourself with a digital HR solution that can do the repetitive HR tasks for you, in just a few clicks, you will save yourself from potentially costly and damaging employment disputes.
To see HR software in action and to understand how BrightHR can support you in keeping up to date with UK employment law, book a free demo today or get in touch with the team.
