Staff handbooks

Holidays policyWorkers have a statutory right to a minimum of 5.6 weeks' (28 days') paid leave per annum. Whilst you'd think granting holidays and holiday pay is a relatively straightforward exercise, disputes over holiday pay are one of the most common... Read more

Bonus payment clauseOnly include a bonus payment clause in your contract of employment if you actually intend to pay a bonus to the particular employee. It's also always safer to make bonus payments discretionary rather than contractual entitlements, ... Read more

Recruitment policyIt's important that managers have guidelines when it comes to recruitment, so that they know the relevant procedure to be followed. Our recruitment policy also serves as a useful reminder to managers of their equal opportunities obli... Read more

Email and internet policyIt's important in all office-based workplaces to have policy statements on the use of computers, email and the internet at work and on using the telephone. Our email and internet policy includes provisions on acceptable use, s... Read more

Social media policyUse our social media policy to set out your rules on employees accessing social media websites during work time. Whilst you can't prohibit employees accessing such sites in their own time using their own equipment, such as on their ... Read more

Dress and appearance policyYou will no doubt want your employees to dress appropriately to project a good image for your business. Whatever dress code you adopt, it must not be unreasonable or place unnecessarily restrictive demands on your employees... Read more

Personal relationships at work policyIn drafting and implementing a policy statement on personal relationships at work, you need to strike a balance between protecting your legitimate business interests and the right of your employees to have a priva... Read more

Lay-off and short time working clauseConsider inserting a lay-off and short time working clause into employment contracts enabling you to temporarily lay off an employee with no work and no pay, or to temporarily reduce their hours/days of work during... Read more

Leaves of absence policyIn addition to annual leave, sickness absence and the various statutory rights to time off (for example, maternity leave, parental leave, paternity leave, time off for dependants, parental bereavement leave, etc.), employees m... Read more