Recruitment Laws in the United Kingdom
As a rule, human resource management (HRM) is the part that handles company recruitment processes. Core steps of human resources (HM) are attracting, selecting, and then appointing suitable recruited candidates. As a consequence, recruitment rules and regulations apply to all employers in the United Kingdom.
The undertakings of employing people may also involve choosing individuals for unpaid positions (e.g. taking on a volunteer). Hence, many businesses create voluntary roles or positions for unpaid trainees.
The tasks of sourcing new workers falls most on managers and recruitment specialists. Even so, it also involves public-sector employment agencies or large specialist search consultancies.
Note: As an employer, it is important to understand your responsibilities if you are using a recruitment agency to find staff, including temporary or permanent workers.
UK Rules of Recruitment
Nowadays, the role of finding workers is less labour intensive than it was many years ago. Filling the vacancies of an expanding business is more likely to involve Internet-based technologies to cut the costs of recruitment.
Few employers would deny that the success of an organisation often hinges on its workers. So, the goal is finding the right number of employees – with the right skills and abilities.
Even so, keeping them requires a thorough knowledge and understanding about small business growth strategies and ‘man management’.
5 Steps for Finding New Staff
- Work out the number of new staff members required to fill positions and determine the skills needed to fill each appointment.
- Advertise the job vacancies and any new roles created as part of building a successful business and moving forward.
- Employers should never underestimate the importance of preventing discrimination and adhering to health and safety regulations in the workplace.
- Select the most appropriate candidates to attend your interview procedures and then select the successful applicants.
- Organise and plan a work programme to help all recruited staff settle into their role, become effective, and to flourish.
Important: This section explains the rules of advertising a job and attracting applicants ‘fairly’. It also covers the tricky topic of Disclosure and Barring (DBS) checks.
Full and Part-time Jobs
Advertising a Job
Employers can advertise a job and then manage their vacancies online via the ‘Find a job’ service found on the GOV.UK website (use the Employers Online NI service in Northern Ireland).
Note: The information on how to advertise a job vacancy on the ‘Find a job’ service is also available in Welsh language (Cymraeg).
Finding a Job
You can search and apply for jobs in Great Britain using the ‘Find a job‘ service (use JobCentre Online NI for Northern Ireland).
Note: Information on how to look for work on the ‘Find a job’ service is also available in Welsh language (Cymraeg).
Jobsora
Search through thousands of UK jobs near to you and apply online today! You can search Jobsora.com for job vacancies by location or by job title.
Jooble
Explore all the current vacancies for jobs in United Kingdom. The fast and free service from Jooble lists thousands of jobs from all the top employers and leading job boards.
Advertising an Internship
Recruiters can use ‘Find a job service‘ to advertise internships. The adverts are free and you can target new and recent graduates.
Jobcentre Plus Help for Recruiters
The section explains how Jobcentre Plus help for recruiters can be an invaluable resource for employers who are recruiting new staff members.
Criminal Record Check
Basic DBS Check
This guide explains how basic DBS checks work, how to apply, the current cost, and what information is contained on a certificate (e.g. convictions and conditional cautions).
Background Checks
The section explains the grounds needed to carry out a criminal record check on another person. You can also find out how to apply to check the criminal records of someone else.
Employer Checks
Your criminal record will get checked if you apply for certain job roles. Examples include times when you will be working with children or in healthcare.
DBS Update Service
There are several benefits of joining the DBS update service. The guide explains how to register online and check the DBS certificate of an applicant.
Umbrella Body
Use the GOV.UK website to search for a DBS umbrella body company. These are companies that can do Disclosure and Barring Service checks on behalf of businesses and organisations.
Note: Members of the public or parents with concerns can report someone as unfit to work with children or vulnerable adults (e.g. to the police, social services, or to their employer).
Disabled Employees
There are several key employment rules to follow when recruiting disabled employees. All employers must avoid discriminating against disabled people during recruitment.
Right to Work Checks
Checking the Correct Documentation
You can check if a document allows someone to work in the UK (e.g. in situations where you don’t have a share code).
Checking an Applicant’s Right to Work
There are several ways for employers to check if a job applicant has the legal right to work in the United Kingdom (e.g. original documentation or share code).
Viewing a Right to Work Share Code
Employers can view a job applicant’s right to work details online to check if they can work legally in the United Kingdom.
Note: Employers can apply for a sponsor licence to support foreign workers or students choosing to work or study in the United Kingdom.
Ex Offenders
Check how the law on criminal records applies to ex offenders and employment. The section also covers spent convictions, rehabilitation, and the exceptions for DBS checks.