Barely a fifth of employers (16%) feel fully confident their contracts and handbooks align with everyday workplace practices and, moreover, that these are reviewed together regularly, a poll has found.
The survey of 388 HR decision-makers (309 on contracts) illustrated the dangers employers face in terms of potentially creating inconsistencies between contracts, policies and day-to-day management as they implement changes under the Employment Rights Act, warned employment law firm WorkNest.
A total of 61% were only ‘fairly’ confident and acknowledged there may be gaps, while a further 22% admitted to lacking confidence that their documents and practices were aligned.
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The WorkNest research also found just half (49%) of employers had reviewed their employment contracts within the past six months.
Worryingly, 18% did not know when contracts were last reviewed, while a further 18% had either not reviewed them for more than a year or only did so when an issue arose.
Rosie Kennedy, senior employment law adviser at WorkNest, said: “Contracts and handbooks are the foundation of the employment relationship. They set out what employees and employers can expect from one another, but they also give businesses important protection when issues arise.
“Problems often occur when documents...
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