A Practical Guide to Using EOR Services in the United Kingdom
If you’re hiring in the UK for the first time, you’re in good company. It’s one of the most popular countries for remote expansion, great talent, a strong rule of law, and English-speaking teams. But hiring here isn’t as plug-and-play as it might seem.
The UK has a very employee-friendly legal system, and if you’re not careful, you could land in compliance trouble pretty fast.
That’s where using an Employer of Record (EOR) really comes in handy.
Even though your EOR handles the paperwork, contracts, and tax filings, it’s still worth knowing how UK hiring works. That way, you’re not caught off guard by holiday laws, notice periods, or payroll deductions.
Let’s go over what matters most.
Employment Law in the UK Is Centered on Worker Protection
UK employment law is designed to protect employees, and there’s a long list of things you can’t get wrong: contracts, minimum wage, notice periods, redundancy, holiday pay, and pension contributions, just to name a few.
Everyone hired in the UK must get a written statement of employment on or before their first day. This includes details like pay, benefits, job title, working hours, and holiday entitlement. Your EOR will provide this, but it’s still worth reviewing to make sure the role and pay terms are correct.
Also: while post-Brexit the UK is no longer bound by EU rules, many protections (like GDPR and employee rights) have been retained, so compliance still matters a lot.
Worker Classification: Employee vs Contractor
One thing that comes up often in the UK is IR35, a tax rule that checks whether a contractor is really working like a full-time employee.
If you’re hiring someone through an EOR, they’ll be a full employee on paper, but if they’re switching from contracting or a limited company setup, IR35 might affect their tax history or preferences. Good EORs will help the hire navigate this, especially if they’re moving from freelance to employed status.
Payroll, Tax, and Pension Obligations
Here’s what payroll in the UK typically includes:
- Income Tax (PAYE): Withheld at source by the employer.
- National Insurance Contributions (NIC): Both employer and employee pay into this system, which covers healthcare and benefits.
- Pension Auto-Enrolment: Employees must be enrolled in a workplace pension scheme if eligible. Employers contribute a minimum of 3%, employees around 5%, unless they opt out.
- Holiday Pay: Employers are required to pay for at least 28 days of paid leave (including bank holidays) for full-time employees.
EOR platforms handle all these calculations for you, including submission to HMRC (the UK tax authority), but your finance team should still review reports monthly.
Working Hours and Time Off
The UK has a standard 40-hour workweek, and employees can’t legally work more than 48 hours per week on average unless they opt out. It’s common to include an opt-out clause in contracts, but it must be voluntary.
Time-off expectations are also clear:
- Paid Annual Leave: Minimum of 28 days (statutory), including public holidays.
- Public Holidays: Vary slightly by region, England and Wales share most dates, but Scotland and Northern Ireland have a few extras.
- Sick Leave: Employees are eligible for Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) from day 4 of absence, but many employers offer better terms.
- Maternity & Paternity Leave: The UK mandates up to 52 weeks maternity leave (39 paid), and up to 2 weeks paid paternity leave, with options for shared parental leave.
Your EOR provider will align your policies with these rules and manage employee entitlements accordingly.
Probation Periods and Termination
Probation periods are legal and common in UK employment, usually lasting 3 to 6 months. During probation, notice periods are typically 1 week, but after that, it extends based on tenure (up to 12 weeks for long-serving employees).
Termination in the UK must be done carefully. Unless there’s serious misconduct, employees are entitled to:
- Notice periods (based on contract or statutory minimum)
- Final pay (including unused leave)
- Redundancy pay (if applicable and tenure exceeds 2 years)
You can’t just let someone go without cause, unfair dismissal claims are a real risk. A good EOR will help structure exits properly and ensure you’re protected from liability.
Language, Culture, and Remote Communication
English is obviously the primary language, but keep in mind there are still cultural differences depending on where your hire is based, London, Manchester, and Belfast all feel a bit different. UK professionals generally expect punctuality, formal communication (at least initially), and clear goals.
Also, people in the UK tend to be pretty direct but polite. If you’re managing remotely, keeping 1:1 check-ins and giving written feedback works well.
Onboarding Time: What to Expect
Hiring through an EOR in the UK is usually fast. If your employee has all their documents ready (passport, proof of address, NI number), onboarding can be completed in 3 to 5 business days.
Delays can happen if your hire needs to register for a National Insurance number or doesn’t yet have the right to work in the UK. Most EORs can guide them through the process if that’s the case.
EOR vs. Setting Up a Legal Entity in the UK
If you’re hiring just one or two people in the UK, setting up a local entity is probably overkill. Using an EOR is quicker, cheaper, and a lot less risky, especially since UK labor law favors the employee in disputes.
But if you’re building out a full UK office, or you plan to stay here long-term and hire 10+ people, it might be worth incorporating.
Here’s how they compare:
| Feature | EOR (Employer of Record) | Legal Entity |
|---|---|---|
| Setup Time | 3–5 business days | 2–3 months |
| Initial Cost | Low (monthly per hire) | High (legal, accounting, setup) |
| Payroll & Tax Filing | Done by EOR | You need a payroll team/provider |
| Legal Compliance | EOR takes care of it | You’re fully responsible |
| Contracts & Documentation | Handled by EOR | Must be drafted and maintained |
| Flexibility & Scale | Very flexible | More fixed structure |
| Best For | Fast hiring, small teams | Long-term investment, larger ops |
What We’ve Seen in Practice
From what we’ve seen, most startups and mid-sized companies use an EOR when entering the UK market. It lets them hire fast without opening a UK Ltd. company or dealing with HMRC directly.
Some later switch to a legal entity once they grow, but many stick with an EOR long-term, especially if they’re only hiring a few UK-based employees.
If you need to get boots on the ground quickly, or just want to test the market before fully committing, an EOR is hands-down the easiest way to do it.
