The laws that govern us are always changing. Just because a certain law has been set in stone for a number of years does not mean that there is not the potential for it to be changed at some point in the future. As a result, you should know what to do if a change to laws like employment laws do come around.
Be Proactive
The first step you should always take is to be proactive. You need to make sure that you are actively following any major changes to the law that are billed and preparing to pass through Parliament. Even if there is just the hint of a discussion in the news, you need to make sure that you are actively following it.
This means that you will be able to know when any changes are going to be coming your way. This gives you more time to prepare for anything that you might have to alter about your current structure. You might even be able to avoid some of the major panic that can come with rearranging your business as you can pre-emptively prepare for changes.
It is always a good idea to be proactive when it comes to your business. With something as open and accessible as the law, there is no reason why you should be getting blindsided by some major change in legislation that is brought in.
Work Out if They Apply to You
The first move you should always make is to work out whether or not any of the new laws actually apply to you. For example, if you do not have any employees under you, obviously some changes in employment law might not apply to you and your company.
Though changes to the law can seem scary when they arise, it is incredibly important to remember that they might not always apply to you. You could end up picturing massive changes that will topple your current strategies, only to discover that you actually need to make no such changes at all. Taking the time to establish this first step will be crucial in helping you keep calm as you try to work out what needs to be done next.
Consult a Solicitor
One of the best people to discuss changes in employment law with will always be your solicitor. Head to one who specialises in employment law and they will always be ahead of the game when it comes to knowing how the law is shifting to your favour and disadvantage.
Finding a top employment solicitor like those at www.springhouselaw.com has many benefits beyond this advice. Whether they are reviewing contracts for you or checking out some other area of employment law, they are useful to have on your side. They might also be able to offer some guidance in to how to best restructure your business in the event of major changes. Their expertise will always prove to be invaluable when you aren’t sure where to turn.
Establish the Deadline
Changes in the law rarely require an immediate switch. There will usually be some sort of transition period in which you will be able to make the changes needed to remain compliant with the law. You need to make sure that you are aware of when the deadline for this transition period is, so you are able to arrange everything in plenty of time.
Try not to leave everything until the last moment. By spreading out the tasks that you need to do, you will be able to make sure everything is taken care of long before it becomes an issue and other commitments mean that you might not pull it off correctly. It is important to remember that the other operations of your business cannot flag in this time. No matter what, the business needs to keep moving forward and enjoying the same level of success that you are used to – even if you have to majorly restructure some of the internal workings.
Notify Staff
Once you have established what these changes are likely to be, you should make sure that you notify your staff so they are aware of any changes that are coming. This is especially important if they are likely to be significantly impacted by the new legislation.
For example, you might have to change shift patterns in line with new guidance, or something else that is likely to affect the lives of your staff as a whole. It is unfair to just spring changes on them without first discussing it. Notifying them could be as simple as a quick team meeting, or it might need to be a bit more in depth. Think about what will work best for your team.
Check Against Your Plans
You should have several detailed business plans that detail where you wish to take your company in the future. These are often over several timescales. For example, you might have one that is only going to be looking to maybe a year in the future, while another might stretch a lot further ahead, as far as maybe a decade even.
How do these new changes to employment laws affect these plans as they currently stand? If they are affecting the way your business is currently set up, there is a good chance that they will also affect your future plans. You need to think carefully about the small changes like this, as they could have a much wider implication than you could ever imagine.
As a business owner, you need to make sure that you are aware of anything that could affect your company. Changes to the law can be a big issue here, so make sure that you are always aware of upcoming pieces of legislation. It might take longer than you could first think to change your current structure or operations. When it comes to the law, you always need to ensure that your company is going to be in the right.
