HR guides for small UK teams
Plain answers to the jobs that land on your desk when there's no HR department: first hires, right-to-work and sponsor duties, holiday, new starters and employee data.
UK statutory rates for employers, 2026/27
Check the common pay, payroll, pension and redundancy figures for 2026/27, with the date and nation attached.
Read the guide →All 16 guides
- Hiring & onboarding
HR for startups
Put the essentials for your first employee in the right order, from employment status and terms to payroll, safety and a dependable people record.
4 min readRead → - Hiring & onboarding
Employment contracts for small employers
Turn an agreed hire into clear terms that match the offer, payroll, working pattern and rules that apply where the person works.
5 min readRead → - Hiring & onboarding
Onboarding checklist
Turn an accepted offer into one owned plan for checks, pay, equipment, access, role learning and useful early feedback.
5 min readRead → - Hiring & onboarding
Right to work checks and sponsor duties
Run the right check before someone starts, keep the evidence, and add sponsor controls only if your organisation holds a licence.
6 min readRead → - Holiday & time off
Managing annual leave
Set a clear holiday rule, calculate from the working pattern and keep every request easy to explain.
5 min readRead → - Holiday & time off
UK bank holidays
Check the 2026, 2027 and 2028 bank holiday dates for each UK nation, then set a clear rule for leave, working and pay.
4 min readRead → - Sickness & absence
Managing sickness absence
Set a clear reporting process, keep health details private and handle each return or review with a fair record.
8 min readRead → - Working hours & patterns
Handling flexible working requests
Recognise the request, discuss what could work and give a fair, recorded answer within the right timetable.
8 min readRead → - Managing people
Managing performance and capability
Turn a real performance gap into clear expectations, practical support and a fair review before deciding whether formal action is needed.
5 min readRead → - Managing people
Running a fair disciplinary process
Investigate an allegation, let the employee answer it and reach a proportionate, recorded decision with a genuine appeal.
6 min readRead → - Parents & carers
Maternity and family leave
Handle maternity and family leave with clear dates, the correct pay decision and a return plan that respects the person taking leave.
8 min readRead → - Leaving & redundancy
Resignations and notice periods
Turn a resignation into one clear leaving plan, from notice and the final working day to handover, holiday, final pay and records.
5 min readRead → - Leaving & redundancy
Redundancy for small employers
Move from a genuine need to reduce roles to a fair proposal, consultation, selection and final decision without choosing the person first.
6 min readRead → - Data, records & systems
GDPR for HR
Map each use of employee information, then connect its purpose, lawful basis, access, supplier, retention and response route.
5 min readRead → - Data, records & systems
Moving HR off spreadsheets
Decide whether your HR spreadsheet still works, turn its weak points into requirements and hand over to one dependable people system.
5 min readRead → - Pay & benefits
UK statutory rates for employers
Check the common pay, payroll, pension and redundancy figures for 2026/27, with the date and nation attached.
4 min readRead →
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