The future of hiring: Why paying hourly-paid staff via a platform is the smarter choice
By: Claire, redwigwam
Adapting to the UK's new employment rights reforms
The UK government has recently announced the most significant reforms to employment rights in a generation. These changes aim to provide workers with greater security, ensuring day-one rights for parental leave, a crackdown on exploitative zero-hour contracts, and stronger protections for gig workers.
While these updates are great for workers, they also mean more legal and administrative responsibilities for businesses hiring hourly-paid staff. For many employers, the question now is: how can we remain compliant while maintaining flexibility and efficiency?
The answer lies in platform-based staffing solutions—a modern, legally compliant way to hire and pay workers without the burden of direct employment.
What are the UK’s new employment law reforms?
The UK government’s Employment Rights Bill introduces a range of reforms that impact businesses hiring temporary and hourly-paid staff. Some of the key changes include:
✅ Day-one rights for paternity, parental, and bereavement leave. Employers can no longer enforce long probationary periods before offering these benefits.
✅ Crackdown on exploitative zero-hour contracts. Employers must offer fairer, more predictable contracts to workers.
✅ Increased protections for gig workers and temporary staff. The government is improving clarity around worker rights, pay, and benefits.
✅ Flexible working requests from day one. Employees can request flexible working arrangements immediately.
These reforms mean businesses need to rethink how they manage their workforce, especially those relying on hourly-paid staff, casual workers, or temporary employees.
The challenges of employing hourly-paid staff directly
Traditionally, businesses hiring hourly-paid staff must handle every aspect of employment, including:
🔸 Right to Work Checks. Employers must verify workers’ legal right to work in the UK.
🔸 Payroll & Tax Contributions. Businesses are responsible for PAYE, National Insurance, and pension contributions.
🔸 Holiday Pay & Sick Pay Entitlements. Ensuring compliance with new regulations on statutory benefits.
🔸 Contract & Compliance Management. Providing legal contracts that meet government standards.
With the new laws, failing to meet these obligations could lead to fines, penalties, and reputational damage. For many small and medium-sized businesses, the added complexity and cost of compliance make traditional hiring unsustainable.
Why a Staffing Platform is the Smartest Solution
A platform-based staffing model, like redwigwam, allows businesses to hire flexible, pre-vetted workers while staying legally compliant. Instead of directly employing staff, businesses can access a pool of qualified workers who are employed and paid via the platform.
This model benefits businesses in several key ways:
1. Compliance with UK employment laws
🔹 No risk of misclassification – All workers are classified correctly under employment law.
🔹 Right to Work checks handled – Avoid penalties for hiring ineligible workers.
🔹 Full payroll management – No need to worry about tax, NI, or holiday pay calculations.
2. Reduced admin & hiring costs
🔹 No need for a dedicated HR or payroll team – The platform manages all worker payments and contracts.
🔹 Only pay for hours worked – No long-term salary commitments.
🔹 Instant hiring – Post a job and get matched with available workers within minutes.
3. More flexibility without legal risk
🔹 Scale your workforce up or down – Perfect for seasonal demand, unexpected staff shortages, or peak trading periods.
🔹 No complex contracts – Workers are engaged through the platform, removing the legal risk from your business.
🔹 Fewer no-shows – Platforms like Redwigwam track worker reliability, ensuring businesses hire dependable staff.
Why more UK businesses are choosing flexible staffing platforms
Many businesses in retail, hospitality, warehousing, and logistics have already shifted to platform-based hiring to stay competitive. With new employment laws increasing compliance requirements, this trend is set to accelerate.
The Traditional Way vs. The Platform Model
| Hiring directly | Hiring via a platform |
|---|---|
| Employer responsible for legal compliance | Platform ensures legal compliance |
| Payroll, tax, and benefits must be managed in-house | Payroll, tax, and holiday pay handled for you |
| Hiring process can take weeks | Workers available instantly |
| Risk of no-shows and unreliable staff | Pre-vetted, reliable workers with tracked performance |
For businesses looking to stay compliant, reduce admin, and hire quickly, a platform-based staffing model is the best solution.
Final thoughts: Is it time to rethink your hiring strategy?
With the UK’s Employment Rights Bill reshaping the labor market, businesses must adapt to stay compliant while maintaining workforce flexibility.
🔹 Direct employment now comes with increased legal obligations
🔹 Hourly-paid staffing needs to be more structured and compliant
🔹 Platforms like redwigwam provide a legally sound, hassle-free alternative
By paying hourly-paid staff via a platform, businesses can stay ahead of employment law changes, reduce hiring risks, and build a more flexible workforce, without the added complexity.
If your business is still navigating the best way to hire flexible staff, now is the time to explore smarter staffing solutions.