Does the thought of all those overlapping summer leave requests give you a feeling of dread? You’re not alone I hear it all the time from business owners. Most don’t have a process in place for deciding who gets approved and who doesn’t, which causes anxiety and confusion. The last thing you want to do […]
You might be looking at the new unfair dismissal rules and thinking that probation periods have become pointless. After all, if employees gain unfair dismissal protection after just 6 months from 1 January 2027, and most probation periods last 3 to 6 months, doesn’t the whole concept lose its teeth? Actually, the opposite is true. […]
If you’ve noticed that employing people is getting more expensive, you’re not imagining it. The cost of having a team has gone up across the board: NI increases from the budget Day-1 SSP under the Employment Rights Act Expanded leave entitlements Plus a growing list of compliance obligations So, when the government offers you money […]
Short answer: yes, you can. But from 1 January 2027, the way you do it has to be different. And, if you get the process wrong, it could cost you. The Employment Rights Act is reducing the unfair dismissal qualifying period from 2 years to 6 months. Anyone you hire from 1 July 2026 will […]
Thinking about reversing remote working for your employees? It’s something many business owners are considering right now. But rushing the process or missing out crucial steps could end up costing you more in the long run. Before making any changes, you need to understand the risks and how to do things properly. Risk 1: […]
Most small businesses overpay for new hires. Sometimes it’s because the salary was simply too high. But more often, it’s because the role was never properly defined before the advert went out. A vague advert attracts the wrong mix of candidates. Salary expectations inflate because there’s nothing anchoring them to the actual level of the […]
You’ve probably used ChatGPT or something similar to draft a contract, write a policy or put together a letter for an employee. It’s quick. It sounds professional. And it feels like you’ve just saved yourself a chunk of money. But the problem with AI-generated HR documents isn’t that they look bad. They usually look fine. […]
If you haven’t reviewed your sickness absence process since April, your business may already be paying more than it needs to. On 6 April 2026, the rules around Statutory Sick Pay changed. Two updates came into force at the same time and together they shift how absence hits your bottom line. SSP is now payable […]
While several Employment Rights Act changes have already taken effect in April 2026, many more are scheduled throughout the rest of 2026 and into 2027. At ZEST HR, we have organised the new laws into clear milestones so you can see what has changed, what is coming next and when action is required. Here are […]
As a small business, you may feel like you’re at less risk of being taken to an employment tribunal. In our experience, that’s not the case. 1: Small businesses are actually at a higher risk of a tribunal claim because you often manage employee issues informally. That leaves you far more exposed compared to larger […]
Here’s a simple solution that often flies under the radar: Relevant Life Policies. If you’re a business owner or work with key staff, this is worth a look. In short, it’s a life insurance policy set up through your company that’s tax-efficient for both you and your employee. The tax benefits are what make it […]
What HR tasks are quietly pulling you away from growing the business? You’re trying to manage HR yourself to save money while also running the business. Most owners start this way. It works for a while. Then the team grows, issues crop up and what used to be simple suddenly eats far more time and […]
