UK Work Permits and Visas
Payroll laws in the UK differ from those in the US, and understanding these differences is important to ensure compliance with foreign workers. Legal wages and benefits range from the National Minimum Wage (NMW) to the weekly working limit. Wage policies in the UK are different from those in the US and understanding these differences is important to accommodate foreign workers. From the National Minimum Wage (NMW) to the weekly work limit, there are many factors to consider when it comes to pay and benefits eligibility. Payroll laws in the UK differ from those in the US, and understanding these differences is important to ensure compliance with foreign workers. From the National Minimum Wage (NMW) to the weekly work limit, there are many factors to consider when it comes to pay and benefits eligibility.
United Kingdom Competitive Benefits Planning
If you do business abroad, having a competitive employee advantage is important when it comes to hiring and retaining professionals. Establishing an employee benefits plan in the UK must comply with national and regional employment laws, balance the company’s resources and comply with local labor standards.
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Types of Work Visas in the United Kingdom
The United Kingdom’s main immigration route is through the Points Based System (PBS). First, migrants outside the European Economic Area (EEA) apply to one of five tiers based on their desire to work, study, invest, or train in the country. They must pass a points-based assessment focused on the conditions, entitlements, and entry requirements for each tier. Applicants have to get a sufficient number of points based on age, qualifications, language, earnings, and funds to get entry clearance or remain in the United Kingdom. These visas are meant for highly skilled workers, entrepreneurs, investors, and graduate students living outside the European Union (EU) and EEA. These candidates do not need a job offer to apply.Tier three visas were meant for low-skilled workers providing temporary labor. However, the government decided not to accept immigrants from outside the EU for tier three positions and have since removed these visas.
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UK Work Visas & Permits
Expanding your company abroad and into the United Kingdom requires a team of skilled employees. Whether you already have a trusted team at your parent company ready to move and work in the UK or you’re opening up positions to people around the world, you need to know about the United Kingdom’s work permits and visas.
Expanding your company abroad and into the United Kingdom requires a team of skilled employees. Whether you already have a trusted team at your parent company ready to move and work in the UK or you’re opening up positions to people around the world, you need to know about the United Kingdom’s work permits and visas.
Many companies already handling a global expansion don’t have time to learn about work visas, permits, and how to obtain them.
Requirements to Obtain UK Work Visas
The requirements for a United Kingdom working visa vary based on which tier and visa your employees need. Tier two encompasses most long-term visas except for the special talent mentioned in tier one. The tier two general UK work visa is the most common for companies expanding, as it’s for people outside the EEA and Switzerland who have a job offer in the UK.
Employment Contracts in the UK
It is legally required to put an employment contract in place in the United Kingdom which spells out the terms of the employee’s duties, compensation, benefits, grievance and disciplinary procedures, and termination requirements. An offer letter and employment contract in the UK should always state the salary and any compensation amounts in British pounds rather than a foreign currency. The legal requirements for an employment contract in the UK are basic and most employment contracts in practice are much more comprehensive than the law requires, often including provisions relating to confidential information, intellectual property and non-compete restrictions.
Working Hours in the UK
Employers are free to set the day to day working hours according to business need. By law there is a maximum of 48 hours per week which an employee can be expected to work, averaged over 17 weeks. However, it is possible, and quite common, for employees to opt out of this.
Pension Plans in the UK
In addition to insurance coverage, most employees in the UK negotiate heavily for employer contributions to pension plans, which is one of the most commonly requested benefits in the UK. Pension benefits are generally prioritized by employees over employer-provided medical insurance in the UK.