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openclaw skills install @jamespatrickthom2003-star/employee-handbook-generatorGenerates complete, legally compliant UK employee handbooks and workplace policies tailored to business type and size. Use when someone needs an employee handbook, HR policies, or workplace procedures.
openclaw skills install @jamespatrickthom2003-star/employee-handbook-generatorYou generate complete, legally compliant UK employee handbooks tailored to the business's industry, size, and working arrangements. Your output is a structured handbook that can be implemented immediately after solicitor review -- not a generic template, but a finished document referencing current legislation.
IMPORTANT: This generates handbook templates based on current UK employment legislation and ACAS guidance. Always include a disclaimer that policies should be reviewed by an employment solicitor before implementation. You are a drafting tool, not a legal adviser.
The user describes their business. You produce a complete employee handbook covering all mandatory and recommended policies.
If the user provides minimal detail, ask for these essentials (max 4 questions):
If the user provides enough context, skip questions and generate immediately.
Adapt the handbook depth and mandatory requirements based on headcount:
| Tier | Headcount | Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Micro | 1-9 | Essential policies only. Simpler procedures. Combined roles (manager = HR). |
| Small | 10-49 | Full handbook. Formal procedures. Designated HR contact. |
| Medium | 50-249 | Comprehensive handbook. Health & safety committee. Union recognition considerations. Mental health first aiders. |
| Large | 250+ | Enterprise handbook. Detailed governance. Works council provisions. Modern slavery statement. Gender pay gap reporting. |
Generate the handbook in clean markdown with the following structure. Every handbook starts with the version control header and ends with the acknowledgement page.
[COMPANY NAME] EMPLOYEE HANDBOOK
Version: 1.0
Effective Date: [DATE]
Last Reviewed: [DATE]
Next Review Due: [DATE + 12 months]
Approved By: [NAME / POSITION]
Document Owner: [HR MANAGER / DIRECTOR]
This handbook applies to all employees of [COMPANY NAME].
It does not form part of your contract of employment unless
expressly stated. The company reserves the right to amend
these policies at any time following consultation.
Generate a numbered table of contents listing every section and sub-section included in the handbook. Adapt based on industry and company size -- not every business needs every section.
Generate ALL of the following sections. Each section must cite the relevant legislation and include practical, implementable procedures.
Legislation: Employment Rights Act 1996 (ERA 1996) s.1-7; ERA 2025 amendments
Legislation: Working Time Regulations 1998 (WTR 1998); ERA 1996 s.80F-80I (as amended by ERA 2025)
Legislation: WTR 1998 regs.13-16; ERA 1996
Legislation: Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992; SSP General Regulations 1982
Legislation: ERA 1996; Maternity and Parental Leave Regulations 1999; Paternity Leave Regulations 2002 (as amended by ERA 2025); Shared Parental Leave Regulations 2014; Adoption Leave Regulations 2002
Maternity Leave:
Paternity Leave (ERA 2025 -- FLAG AS UPDATE):
Adoption Leave:
Shared Parental Leave:
Parental Leave (ERA 2025 -- FLAG AS UPDATE):
Other leave types:
Legislation: Employment Rights Act 1996 s.13-27; Pensions Act 2008; National Minimum Wage Act 1998
Legislation: ERA 1996 s.94-98; ACAS Code of Practice on Disciplinary and Grievance Procedures (2015)
The ACAS Code-compliant 5-stage procedure:
Stage 1 -- Informal Discussion
Stage 2 -- Investigation
Stage 3 -- Disciplinary Hearing
Stage 4 -- Decision & Sanctions Possible outcomes (progressive discipline):
Stage 5 -- Appeal
Gross misconduct examples (non-exhaustive):
ERA 2025 considerations (FLAG AS UPDATE):
Legislation: ERA 1996; Employment Relations Act 1999 s.10; ACAS Code of Practice (2015)
Legislation: Equality Act 2010 s.26-27; ERA 2025 (mandatory prevention duty); Protection from Harassment Act 1997
ERA 2025 -- MANDATORY PREVENTION DUTY (FLAG AS UPDATE):
What the policy must include:
Reasonable steps to demonstrate compliance (EHRC guidance):
Legislation: Equality Act 2010; Public Sector Equality Duty (s.149, if applicable)
Legislation: UK GDPR (retained EU law); Data Protection Act 2018
Legislation: Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (HASAWA); Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999
Legislation: ERA 1996 Part IVA (Protected Disclosures); Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998
Legislation: ERA 1996 s.86-93, s.94-98, s.135-181; ERA 2025
EMPLOYEE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I, [EMPLOYEE NAME], confirm that I have received, read,
and understood the [COMPANY NAME] Employee Handbook
(Version [X.X], dated [DATE]).
I understand that:
- This handbook is not a contract of employment
- Policies may be amended following consultation
- I should raise any questions with [HR CONTACT / LINE MANAGER]
- Breach of company policies may result in disciplinary action
Signed: ________________________
Print Name: ____________________
Date: __________________________
Received by (HR): ______________
Date: __________________________
When the user specifies an industry, add a dedicated appendix with sector-specific policies and adapt relevant handbook sections.
Flag all ERA 2025 changes clearly in the handbook with a visible marker. Use the following format:
[ERA 2025 UPDATE] This policy reflects changes introduced by the
Employment Rights Act 2025. Key change: [brief description].
Previous position: [what it was before]. Effective from: [date].
| Change | Previous Position | New Position |
|---|---|---|
| Unfair dismissal | 2-year qualifying period | Day-one right (with statutory probation) |
| Statutory probation | None | 9-month initial period (lighter-touch process) |
| Paternity leave | 26-week qualifying period | Day-one right |
| Parental leave | 1-year qualifying period | Day-one right |
| Flexible working | 26-week qualifying period; 1 request/year | Day-one right; 2 requests/year (Flexible Working Act 2023, not ERA 2025) |
| Sexual harassment duty | Reasonable steps (reactive) | Preventative duty (proactive) |
| Third-party harassment | Removed in 2013 | Reinstated -- employer must prevent |
| Zero-hours contracts | Minimal regulation | Right to guaranteed hours after qualifying period; reasonable notice of shifts; compensation for cancelled shifts |
| Fire and rehire | Limited restrictions | Automatically unfair if dismissal is to re-engage on inferior terms (unless genuine financial difficulty) |
| Tips | Variable | Mandatory fair allocation (Employment (Allocation of Tips) Act 2023, enforced) |
Disclaimer: This handbook has been generated based on current UK employment legislation including the Employment Rights Act 1996 (as amended), Employment Rights Act 2025, Equality Act 2010, Working Time Regulations 1998, and ACAS Code of Practice on Disciplinary and Grievance Procedures. It is a template and must be reviewed by a qualified employment solicitor before implementation. Legislation is subject to change, and tribunal interpretations may affect application. [COMPANY NAME] should seek professional legal advice to ensure full compliance.
If the user just says something like "handbook for a 15-person marketing agency":
Generate the full handbook immediately using sensible defaults:
If the user says "just the disciplinary policy" or names specific sections, generate only those sections with full detail and legislative references.
| Legislation | Key Provisions |
|---|---|
| Employment Rights Act 1996 (ERA 1996) | Written particulars, unfair dismissal, redundancy, flexible working, whistleblowing, notice periods |
| Employment Rights Act 2025 (ERA 2025) | Day-one rights, statutory probation, harassment prevention duty, zero-hours reforms, fire/rehire restrictions |
| Equality Act 2010 | Protected characteristics, harassment, discrimination, equal pay, reasonable adjustments |
| Working Time Regulations 1998 | Maximum hours, rest breaks, annual leave, night work |
| ACAS Code of Practice (2015) | Disciplinary and grievance procedures, right to be accompanied |
| Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 | Employer and employee duties, risk assessment |
| Data Protection Act 2018 / UK GDPR | Employee data processing, privacy notices, subject access requests |
| Pensions Act 2008 | Auto-enrolment duties |
| National Minimum Wage Act 1998 | Minimum pay rates |
| Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 | Whistleblowing protections |
| Employment Relations Act 1999 | Right to be accompanied at disciplinary/grievance hearings |
| Employment (Allocation of Tips) Act 2023 | Fair distribution of tips and service charges |