How-to guides for small employers: Employment Rights Act

Plain English, step by step. Each guide shows its sources and when we last checked it, and says clearly where something is expected rather than fixed.

• How to work out when an employee reaches six months of service
  A step by step method to find when each employee reaches six months of service, with a worked example and why the effective date of termination matters.
• How to run probation reviews before 1 January 2027
  A timeline of 1, 3 and 5 month probation check ins before 1 January 2027, what to record, what good notes look like and what to avoid writing.
• How to brief your managers on the Employment Rights Act changes in 20 minutes
  A 20 minute agenda for briefing line managers on the Employment Rights Act changes, with questions to expect and what not to promise.
• How to keep a dated record of what you do to prevent sexual harassment
  Keep a dated record of the steps you take to prevent sexual harassment ahead of the 30 October 2026 duty, including third parties and review dates.
• How to work out statutory sick pay under the new rules
  How to work out statutory sick pay since April 2026: no waiting days, the lower of the weekly rate or 80 percent of earnings, with worked examples.
• How to keep a dated record of a dismissal decision
  What to write down and when for a dismissal decision: Acas Code steps, evidence, meeting, companion and appeal, and the six month links.
• How to get your staff start dates out of an HR or payroll system
  Generic steps to export staff start dates from an HR or payroll system as a CSV, keep the file safe, and add six months with a spreadsheet formula.
• How to get ready for the tipping law changes while the start date is unknown
  Prepare for tipping law changes before a start date is confirmed: list your tip routes, how you share tips, what you record and how you tell staff.