Shane Costelloe of Holmes O’Malley Sexton Solicitors discussed some aspects of Employment Law that would be most relevant to small businesses or start-ups. He included advice to use when approaching HR policies & procedures, the gig vs. contract economy and Covid claims.

Shane explained the value HR policies have for companies. Giving them even brief consideration when setting up your company and hiring can save you a lot of trouble down the line. HR policies are the basis for a huge amount of employment law. By outlining procedures and setting a code of conduct in an employee handbook or contract it sets a standard for your company and the people working for you. This clarifies if and when something is wrong and how you deal with it and eliminates discrepancies between employer and employee when dealing with such issues. 

Shane outlined the differences between the gig and contract economy and the subsequent impact hiring in either style has on companies and their HR policies. He advised in cases where companies have both styles of workers it is important to differentiate between them to avoid any problems which may occur. 

COVID has had a huge effect on employment. Shane shared some insights into the possible impact some of the changes could have from a legal perspective. If you want to learn more so you can keep your company in the best position possible for your business and your employees, you can watch Shane’s Lunch & Learn here.