Overtime Tax UK: Employer Rules & Payroll Guide
Overtime pay is a standard feature of workforce operations across many UK industries, yet the taxation of overtime remains a frequent source of misunderstanding for both employers and employees. Because overtime earnings fluctuate, take-home pay can vary significantly from one pay period to the next, often raising questions about how deductions are calculated and why […]
UK National Minimum Wage Guide for Employers 2026
The UK National Minimum Wage (NMW) framework sets the legal minimum that most workers must be paid, with rates varying by age and apprentice status. Together with the National Living Wage (NLW), it creates a statutory pay floor that employers cannot lawfully undercut. As an employer, you are under a legal duty to pay at […]
National Living Wage: Employer Legal Guide 2026
The National Living Wage (NLW) is a core element of the UK’s statutory pay framework. It sets a legal hourly minimum that most workers aged 21 and over must receive, and it plays a central role in how employers manage pay, control workforce costs and demonstrate compliance with employment law. For organisations of every size […]
National Minimum Wage Act 1998: Employer Guide
The National Minimum Wage Act 1998 represents a major turning point in UK labour protection, creating a single statutory floor below which lawful pay cannot fall. Before the national minimum wage was introduced, large parts of the labour market had no effective statutory pay safeguard. The dismantling of the old Wages Councils system in the […]
UK Minimum Wage Guide for Employers 2025–2026
By law, UK employers must meet specific obligations in relation to workers’ pay under the National Minimum Wage (NMW) and National Living Wage (NLW) framework. Minimum wage rules set a statutory floor for hourly pay and apply across most sectors and working patterns. Getting the detail wrong can lead to arrears, penalties and reputational risk, […]
UK Employer Guide: Pay & Deductions
Ensuring that workers are paid correctly and on time is one of the most important legal responsibilities for any UK employer. A wide framework of legislation governs pay accuracy, minimum pay entitlements, itemised payslips, statutory sick pay, workplace pensions and the limited situations in which deductions from wages are allowed. Employers must also understand how […]
UK Employment Law: Hours and Pay
UK employers have extensive statutory obligations around pay, working hours, breaks and the treatment of different categories of staff. These laws set a baseline of protection for both employees and limb (b) workers, while still allowing organisations room to design working patterns that meet operational and commercial needs. A solid grasp of the key legislation, […]
Remote Work Probation: Assessment Strategies
The widespread shift toward remote and hybrid working has reshaped the modern workplace. While these flexible models offer numerous benefits — including improved work-life balance and access to a wider talent pool — they have also introduced new complexities for employers. One of the most important is how to effectively manage probation periods when employees […]
Probation and Gig Workers: UK Employer Guide
The traditional probationary period — a defined phase during which an employee’s suitability is assessed — has long been embedded in UK employment practice. However, the rise of the gig economy, with its emphasis on short-term, flexible engagements, challenges this conventional concept. For businesses engaging freelancers, contractors, or gig workers, managing initial periods of work […]
Probation, Maternity & Family Leave: A Guide
Probation periods are a valuable tool in the employment relationship, offering a defined window for employers to assess whether a new employee is a good fit for the role. But what happens when a probation period coincides with statutory family leave — such as maternity, paternity, or adoption leave? These overlapping scenarios are increasingly common […]