UK HR compliance checklist for small businesses

Hiring
- Right-to-work check completed before work starts.
- Contract or written statement issued.
- Payroll, tax, pension, and emergency contact details collected.
- Employee privacy notice provided.

Policies
- Absence reporting and sick pay policy.
- Annual leave and bank holiday policy.
- Compassionate and family leave policy.
- Disciplinary and grievance procedure.
- Data protection and acceptable use policy.

Leave and absence
- Annual leave entitlement calculated.
- Part-time and irregular-hours leave method documented.
- Sick leave, fit notes, SSP decisions, and RTW notes recorded.
- Maternity, paternity, compassionate, unpaid, and custom leave tracked separately.
- Carry-over and leaver holiday calculations reviewed.

Payroll and pensions
- Auto-enrolment status recorded.
- Statutory payment evidence retained.
- Pay changes and deductions documented.
- Final pay and accrued holiday checked for leavers.

Records and access
- Sensitive employee records access restricted.
- Retention schedule applied.
- Leaver access removed promptly.
- Equipment and company property returned.