Business Library

Protecting Your People

Even if your employees are part time they are now protected by a range of regulations and laws to ensure they receive the same degree of protection as full time employees. In essence you are legally obliged to ensure that pay, sick leave and maternity leave, working hours, and all other contractual issues do not in any way discriminate against part time employees. The Department of Trade and Industry can provide you with detailed information and some examples of what your legal obligations are.

Healthy profits

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Naturally you are also legally required to protect the safety of your employees at work. The Health and Safety at Work Act requires employers to keep equipment and working environments safe, maintained, and have adequate protection and safety measures in place. All employers are required to register with a Health and safety Executive local office. Shops and offices can usually do this through their local council offices whilst factories will be required to register with the Health and Safety Executive directly.

All employers are required to display notices, signs and certificates regarding fire drill procedures, first aid policy and a certificate of employer's liability. If you employ more than 5 people you are also required to produce a written Health and Safety policy. If you employ more than 20 people all working at ground floor level, or have 10 of your employees working above or below ground level you will also need to apply for a fire certificate.

A 'must have' for employers

Employers liability cover is a form of insurance designed to cover your staff against injury or disease sustained whilst they are at work. This is a legal requirement for all business that employ staff even if they are part time, temporary or training scheme members. When you take out cover you are provided with a certificate which you must display in your business premises. You are expected to retain this certificate, even if the business ceases trading, for 40 years.

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Protecting your assets

Your employees represent a valuable asset to your company. You spend time and effort training them and making them familiar with your business practices and customers. For many companies staff quickly become an integral and indispensable resource. It is however a worrying thought that statistically one in three individuals aged 40 or above will die before they reach 65. Even more worrying is that 20% of women and 25% of men aged between twenty and forty will suffer some form of critical illness before they retire.

Many businesses are unaware that there are products and services that can help defend a business against staff illness or death.

Key Man Cover

If the success of your business is solely dependent on certain key staff members, for instance a highly skilled engineer or top account manager, you may want to insure them individually. Cover is usually based on the estimated loss of profit you would experience should they die.

Critical Illness Cover

Provides care in cases of serious, long-term illnesses such as heart attack or stoke.

Health Care

Prompt treatment and access to private facilities may help to speed up your employees' recovery and hasten up their return to work. It also represents a valuable employment benefit that can help you attract and retain your staff.

Many brokers now offer Key Man Policies, which contain a combination of these covers in one simple package. Your broker should be able to advise you and direct you to expert advisors who will help you tailor a package to your needs and help you define appropriate levels of cover. Call Marsh direct on 02380 216717 for more info.

The defence rests

There are times when businesses face legal proceedings and even the most thoughtful employer can find themselves facing an employee (or ex-employee) in court. Contractual disputes, claims for compensation and tribunals can quickly accumulate huge legal bills. Many business insurance policies can offer cover as an optional extra to your standard cover. Legal expenses insurance will help you pay for a legal defence and cover you for loss of earnings whilst attending a legal hearing.

Business as usual

Whilst being an employer is certainly a big responsibility getting prepared can take much of the worry away. It's well worth getting some advice from The Department of Trade and Industry and your local Business Link. You should also check with your insurance broker that you are fully covered before you take on any extra help.

Marsh Advantage Direct provides a range of highly competitive business insurance packages. They give you all the cover you need as standard with optional extra covers to tailor your policy to your needs.

The policies are flexible enough to grow with your business and every customer has access to a free 24-hour advice line for tax, health and safety and legal issues.

This is a guide. It may be helpful for you to also talk to a professional insurance advisor .