Ask Alice — UK Compliance
Questions Answered
Plain English answers to the compliance questions UK business owners actually Google. Employment law, health & safety, GDPR, pay — no jargon.
Do I need a written tipping policy UK?
Yes — since October 2024, the Allocation of Tips Act 2023 requires all employers who receive tips to have a written tips policy and share 100% of tips with workers. Not having one is a legal breach.
Is SSP from day one now?
Not yet — but it's coming. The Employment Rights Bill proposes removing the three waiting days for Statutory Sick Pay, meaning SSP would be payable from the first day of sickness. The change is expected to come into force in 2026.
What is the National Living Wage in 2026?
The National Living Wage applies to workers aged 21 and over. Rates are set each April by the government following Low Pay Commission recommendations. The April 2025 rate was £12.71/hour — check gov.uk or your ComplianceAlert dashboard for the confirmed April 2026 figure.
What can the Fair Work Agency inspect?
The Fair Work Agency (FWA) is the UK's new employment enforcement body, launched in 2025. It can inspect pay records, holiday pay, tipping compliance, and employment agency conduct. It has powers to enter your premises and demand documents.
Can employees claim unfair dismissal from day one now?
Not yet, but the Employment Rights Bill proposes removing the two-year qualifying period for unfair dismissal. A new system with a statutory probationary period (likely 9 months) is planned — but the change hasn't come into force yet.
What is the CQC Single Assessment Framework?
The CQC Single Assessment Framework replaced the previous Key Lines of Enquiry (KLOEs) system in November 2023. It uses the same five key questions but assesses providers continuously using quality statements and evidence categories rather than inspections alone.
What are GDPR fines for small businesses UK?
The ICO can fine businesses up to £17.5 million or 4% of global annual turnover — whichever is higher — for serious UK GDPR breaches. For less serious breaches, the cap is £8.7 million or 2% of turnover. In practice, small business fines are much lower, but they do happen.
What are the rules for zero-hours contracts in 2026?
The Employment Rights Bill introduces significant new rights for zero-hours workers, including the right to request guaranteed hours after 12 weeks and the right to reasonable notice of shifts. These changes are being phased in from 2026.
How do I calculate holiday pay in 2026?
For regular hours workers, holiday pay is a week's normal pay per week of leave. For irregular hours and part-year workers, the law changed in January 2024 — you can now use rolled-up holiday pay at 12.07% of pay, or calculate using a 52-week reference period.
What is the penalty for not filing a CIS nil return?
Under the Construction Industry Scheme, you must file a monthly return even if you made no payments to subcontractors. Failing to file (or filing late) triggers automatic penalties starting at £100 for the first month — and they escalate quickly.
Is bereavement leave a legal right in the UK?
It depends who died. There is a day-one statutory right to 2 weeks' paid leave when a child under 18 dies, or a baby is stillborn after 24 weeks. For other bereavements, there is no statutory entitlement — but you may have contractual rights.
Do I need a fire safety risk assessment?
Yes — if you employ anyone or if members of the public enter your premises, you must carry out a fire safety risk assessment under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. It must be in writing if you have 5 or more employees.
How long do I have to report a data breach UK?
Under UK GDPR, you must report a personal data breach to the ICO within 72 hours of becoming aware of it — if it's likely to result in a risk to people's rights and freedoms. The clock starts when you (as an organisation) become aware, not just when it's confirmed.
Do I need to give an employment contract from day one?
Yes. Since April 6, 2020, employers must provide a written statement of employment particulars on or before the employee's first day of work. This replaced the old 2-month rule. Failure to do so is automatically an unlawful act.
What is the National Minimum Wage accommodation offset 2026?
The NMW accommodation offset is the amount you can deduct from a worker's pay (or charge them for accommodation) without it counting as an NMW breach. For 2025/26, the offset is £11.10 per day. Check for the April 2026 update via your ComplianceAlert dashboard.
What records does the Fair Work Agency check in hospitality?
In hospitality, the Fair Work Agency focuses on pay records, rota and hours records, holiday pay calculations, tronc and tips distribution records, and zero-hours contract compliance. The sector is a priority for enforcement due to historically high rates of NMW non-compliance.
What do I do if I get an HSE improvement notice?
An HSE improvement notice is a formal legal notice requiring you to fix a specific health and safety breach within a set timeframe (minimum 21 days). You must comply or appeal within 21 days. Ignoring it is a criminal offence.
How long do I have to respond to a subject access request?
Under UK GDPR, you have 1 calendar month from receipt of a valid subject access request (SAR) to respond. You can extend this by a further 2 months for complex or numerous requests — but you must tell the individual within the first month that you're extending and why.
Is Section 21 abolished and when?
Section 21 'no-fault evictions' are abolished under the Renters' Rights Act (England). The Act received Royal Assent in early 2025. The abolition of Section 21 is expected to come into force for new tenancies first, then existing tenancies — check gov.uk for the confirmed commencement date.
What are my obligations when cancelling a zero-hours shift?
Currently there is no statutory minimum notice period for cancelling a zero-hours shift, but the Employment Rights Bill will change this. Once in force, employers must give reasonable notice — and compensation will be owed if shifts are cancelled late.
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