Policies & contracts
The HR policies every UK employer legally needs
Only a few policies are strictly required by law - but several others are your first line of defence at an employment tribunal. Here is what you actually need.
Legally required
- Disciplinary and dismissal procedure - must be set out in writing and given to employees.
- Grievance procedure - must be set out in writing and given to employees.
- Health and safety policy - a written policy is a legal requirement once you have five or more employees.
Effectively essential
- Equal opportunities / anti-discrimination - your defence against Equality Act 2010 claims.
- Data protection (UK GDPR) - how you handle employee and customer data.
- Sickness absence, holiday, and family leave policies - to apply statutory rights consistently.
Why it matters
At tribunal, having a clear, followed policy is often the difference between a fair and an unfair outcome. A missing or ignored procedure is one of the most common reasons employers lose.
Last reviewed September 2026. General information, not legal advice - check ACAS and GOV.UK for your situation.
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