How To Ensure Exceptional HR and Legal Compliance Without Wasting Money
95% of UK businesses employ 9 people or less.
4% of UK businesses employ 10-49 people.
Therefore 99% of UK businesses employ 49 people or less, with the vast majority employing 9 or less.
Every business understands the need to comply with employment law and meet their business HR needs.
The question is what options are available to businesses to ensure exceptional HR and legal compliance in the most efficient and affordable way?
What level of support do you require?
What level of support you require depends on your specific needs and outlook. You may want to do everything internally. You may want to outsource everything. You may want to do a bit of both. You may want to mix and match products or have everything under one roof.
Are you happy with your current processes? If you prefer internal solutions do you have access to all the resources you require? If you prefer outsourced solutions are you receiving exceptional service and value for money?
You may be happy with your current systems and processes in the following areas, or maybe you’re not?
- Employment law – contracts, handbooks, disciplinary procedures, etc
- HR processes to ensure employment law compliance – holiday entitlement, sick leave, payroll, training, policies, etc
- Employee benefits – what additional benefits can you provide your employees that really make a difference?
- GDPR compliance – do you have all the correct policies, systems, reviews, and protection in place to ensure GDPR compliance?
- How do you help employees with physical, mental, and emotional well-being?
HR – Internal or Outsource?
Of course, there are positives and negatives to either option
Businesses of any size may decide they wish to retain everything internally. If the right resources, support, and training are available the risks are heavily reduced.
Alternatively, businesses may want to utilise outsourced solutions. If the package selected fits the needs of the business, and the business is not overspending on a package that is exaggerated, the business can enjoy greater flexibility and productivity from not having to handle such matters internally.
Managing HR and legal compliance internally: Pro’s & Con’s
|
Positives |
Negatives |
|
Swift action – no unnecessary delays |
Expensive when you do require advice |
|
Personal |
Internal resources required at senior levels |
|
Reduces monthly outgoings |
Greater exposure if things do go wrong |
|
Lots of free resources online |
Reliance on key personnel |
Outsourcing HR and legal compliance: Pro’s & Con’s
|
Positives |
Negatives |
|
Monthly subscriptions as opposed to a big bill |
Loss of control |
|
Risk reduction |
Liability rests with you ultimately anyway |
|
Increased efficiency & productivity |
Delays via response times |
|
Specialist support (are they qualified though?) |
Impersonal |
|
Peace of mind |
Some outsourcing solutions tie you in for 2/3/4 years |
Our starting point as a rule of thumb is that businesses with 20 or fewer employees can manage HR and legal compliance internally with the right resources and systems.
Having reviewed outsourced HR services it appears their pricing for businesses with 10-20 employees range from £130 – £200+ per month subscriptions for very basic packages. Many HR solutions do not involve qualified solicitors and you may just be receiving advice from a call centre in some situations.
Businesses with 20+ employees are often more likely to require outsourced HR services due to the greater resources needed internally and additional risks associated with a larger workforce. Often outsourcing can be cheaper, and less risky, than hiring an internal HR team.
Often the choice is a personal preference. Some may be happy overpaying in return for peace of mind. Others may value the available resources increasing internally as a result of outsourcing as a price worth paying.
Outsourced solutions: HR Solicitor Package
- FREE and no-obligation quotes
- Specialist solicitors at the same prices as non-qualified HR Consultants
- A telephone helpline with answers from experienced lawyers to the difficult questions you may face
- An annual health check audits your employment policies, handbooks, and contracts, ensuring you all follow best practice and are fully legally compliant
- A management toolkit provides step-by-step guides on how to deal with HR issues (such as grievances or disciplinary procedures) with supporting documents ready to download
- Optional insurance cover is available to protect against employment tribunal claims
- Receive discounts from specialist solicitors in every area of business law as and when you require legal advice
Summary
With over 95% of UK businesses having 9 employees or less internal software and systems should be suitable for most businesses. There are lots of free resources online and affordable services to support internal HR and legal compliance.