HR frequently asked questions
A growing library of practical, plain-English answers to common HR and UK employment law questions for SMEs.
How we source and cite our guidance
Every answer in this HR FAQ library is grounded in authoritative UK sources. Below you'll find some of the ACAS Codes of Practice we align to as an illustration, the GOV.UK guidance hubs we reference, and a plain-English explanation of how we cite sources in our responses.
ACAS Codes of Practice
ACAS Codes of Practice are statutory documents. Employment tribunals must take them into account when assessing whether an employer acted reasonably. Phronesis guidance is aligned to these codes.
ACAS guidance on handling workplace conflict, disciplinary and grievance matters. Employment tribunals take ACAS codes into account when assessing employer conduct.
Guidance on handling flexible working requests fairly and consistently, including the right to request from day one of employment.
The code governing pre-termination negotiations and the use of settlement agreements to resolve workplace disputes.
Key GOV.UK Guidance Hubs
GOV.UK is the authoritative source for statutory employment rights in the UK. The pages below are the primary hubs we reference across our HR FAQ topics.
The primary GOV.UK hub for employer obligations: contracts, pay, dismissal, redundancy, and statutory entitlements.
Eligibility rules, rates, and employer obligations for Statutory Sick Pay.
Statutory annual leave entitlement, calculation rules, and employer obligations.
Statutory redundancy pay, consultation requirements, and employee rights during a redundancy process.
Guidance on protected characteristics, discrimination, reasonable adjustments, and employer duties under the Equality Act.
Current statutory pay rates by age group, updated annually.
How we cite sources — our policy
Phronesis is built around source transparency. Here is exactly how we approach citations in every response.
Primary legislation
We reference Acts of Parliament (e.g. Employment Rights Act 1996, Equality Act 2010) and statutory instruments as the authoritative legal source.
ACAS Codes of Practice
Where an ACAS Code applies, we align our guidance to it. Employment tribunals are required to take these codes into account when assessing employer conduct.
GOV.UK guidance hubs
We link to the relevant GOV.UK pages so you can verify entitlements and obligations directly from government sources.
Confidence labels
Every Phronesis response includes a confidence rating. Where the law is clear and well-established, confidence is high. Where facts are missing or the situation is nuanced, we say so.
Escalation triggers
When a scenario involves discrimination, whistleblowing, TUPE, collective redundancy, or tribunal risk, we recommend escalation to a qualified HR professional rather than relying solely on AI guidance.
No invented sources
Phronesis is specifically instructed never to fabricate legislation, case law, or statistics. If we cannot verify something, we say so.
Important disclaimer: The guidance in this FAQ library is general in nature and does not constitute legal advice. Employment law is fact-specific — outcomes depend on individual circumstances, contract terms, and the specific facts of each situation. For complex or high-risk scenarios, always seek advice from a qualified HR professional or employment solicitor.
Browse by topic
Select a topic to see frequently asked questions and answers.
Employment Contracts
Changing contracts, employee rights, and what happens when agreement isn't reached.
Pay & Wages
National Minimum Wage, National Living Wage, salary changes, and payment obligations.
Holiday & Leave
Annual leave entitlement, holiday requests, and what employers can and cannot require.
Statutory Sick Pay
SSP entitlement, how long it lasts, and how to manage sickness absence fairly and lawfully.
Disciplinary & Fair Dismissal
Disciplinary procedures, gross misconduct, fair dismissal, unfair dismissal, and constructive dismissal.
Redundancy
Redundancy rights, consultation obligations, and fair redundancy processes.
Flexible Working
Employee rights to request flexible working and how employers should handle those requests.
More topics coming soon
We're building out this library with additional HR topics. If you have questions you'd like answered, let us know and we'll add them.
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