Susan Wakelin

If your business uses contractors, casual workers, or people through an agency or online platform, October 2026 is a date you need on your radar. The rules on right to work checks are widening, and for the first time they will reach well beyond the traditional employee relationship. Why this is happening The Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act 2025 received Royal Assent in December 2025. It gives the Home Office stronger powers to tackle illegal working, and it does this by closing a...

Probation periods can be one of the most useful tools an employer has when bringing somebody new into the business. They give you time to assess whether the employee is right for the role, identify any training or support they need and deal with concerns before they become bigger problems. But simply putting somebody on a three or six-month probation period is not enough. A good probation period needs clear expectations, regular conversations and proper records. If an employee reaches the end...

Holiday pay record-keeping is no longer something employers can afford to treat as a simple payroll admin task. Employers need to keep adequate records showing that workers have received their statutory annual leave entitlement and the correct holiday pay. Failure to keep the records required by law may constitute a criminal offence. For small businesses in particular, this could create a bigger compliance gap than many realise. You might know exactly when your employees have been on holiday....