{"id":47162,"date":"2026-01-27T11:07:53","date_gmt":"2026-01-27T11:07:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/?post_type=resources&#038;p=47162"},"modified":"2026-01-28T06:24:06","modified_gmt":"2026-01-28T06:24:06","slug":"short-time-contracts","status":"publish","type":"resources","link":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/resources\/short-time-contracts\/","title":{"rendered":"Short Time Contracts: What You Need To Know"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull resource-sticky-downloadable-template has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull blog-template-header has-light-violet-50-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\"><div style=\"--bb--crumb-gap:.4em;\" 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Contracts: What You Need To Know<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-5 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<p class=\"has-sm-font-size\">Published<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date has-sm-font-size\"><time datetime=\"2026-01-27T11:07:53+00:00\">27 Jan 2026<\/time><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns content-flex is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-1 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:55%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group sticky-downloadable-title has-light-violet-50-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-11 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--24)\"><h1 class=\"blog-template-title wp-block-post-title\">Short Time Contracts: What You Need To Know<\/h1>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-10 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-9 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-employmentherocom2025-custom-post-date has-sm-font-size\">\n    <span>Last Updated<\/span>&nbsp;<time datetime=\"2026-01-28T06:24:06+00:00\">Jan 28, 2026<\/time>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"content-wrapper\" class=\"wp-block-group content-wrapper has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-12 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">Running a business means navigating ups and downs. One minute, orders are flying in; the next, a key supply chain is disrupted or a seasonal lull hits.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">In these moments, you need to adapt quickly to protect your cash flow and most importantly, your people. Redundancies often feel like the only option, but they aren&#8217;t.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">There&#8217;s a smarter, friendlier way to handle temporary downturns: short-time working. It\u2019s a tool that allows you to reduce employee hours and pay temporarily, helping you weather the storm without losing valuable team members.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">But here\u2019s the critical part: you can&#8217;t just decide to do it. A short time contract variation requires a clear legal basis and, above all, your employee&#8217;s agreement. Get this wrong and you could face serious legal challenges. Let\u2019s cut through the confusion and get it right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is in this factsheet?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">This factsheet is your guide to navigating short-time working arrangements legally and effectively. We&#8217;ll break down:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list is-style-checkmark has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">\n<li>What short-time working means.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>How to implement it with your team&#8217;s consent.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>What you are legally required to pay.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">Think of it as the go-to resource for making tough decisions the right way, protecting both your business and your people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">With this knowledge, you can approach temporary business challenges not with dread, but with a clear, fair and compliant plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is short-time working?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/01\/coffee-tamping-espresso-preparation-1024x683.webp\" alt=\"Person tamping ground coffee into portafilter on wooden counter near espresso machine\" class=\"wp-image-47169\" srcset=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/01\/coffee-tamping-espresso-preparation-1024x683.webp 1024w, https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/01\/coffee-tamping-espresso-preparation-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/01\/coffee-tamping-espresso-preparation-768x512.webp 768w, https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/01\/coffee-tamping-espresso-preparation-1536x1024.webp 1536w, https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/01\/coffee-tamping-espresso-preparation-2048x1365.webp 2048w, https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/01\/coffee-tamping-espresso-preparation-440x293.webp 440w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">Short-time working is a temporary arrangement where you reduce an employee\u2019s hours because there isn\u2019t enough work for them. As their hours decrease, so does their pay. The key word here is <em>temporary<\/em>. It\u2019s a tool designed to navigate a short-term dip in business, not a permanent change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">It&#8217;s often confused with a &#8216;lay-off&#8217;, but they are different. A lay-off is when you ask an employee to stay at home and do no work at all for a period. Short-time working simply means they work fewer hours than usual.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">UK employment law and short-time working<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">The legal foundation for short-time working is built on contract law and consent. You can&#8217;t just tell an employee their hours are cut. According to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.legislation.gov.uk\/ukpga\/1996\/18\/contents\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">the Employment Rights Act 1996<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.acas.org.uk\/lay-offs-and-short-time-working\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">ACAS guidance<\/a>, you can only place an employee on short-time working if either:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">\n<li>Their <a href=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/blog\/electronic-employment-contracts\/\">employment contract<\/a> contains a specific clause that gives you the right to do so; or<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You consult with them and get their explicit agreement in writing to a <a href=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/resources\/temporary-variation-of-contract\/\">temporary variation of contract<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">Without one of these, imposing reduced hours is a breach of contract, which could lead to claims of unlawful deduction of wages or even constructive dismissal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How does short-time working work?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">Implementing a short-time arrangement requires a clear, step-by-step process built on communication and transparency. You need to explain the business reasons, agree on the terms with your team and document everything. This isn&#8217;t just about legal cover; it&#8217;s about maintaining trust when things get tough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">A structured approach ensures that everyone understands the &#8216;why&#8217; behind the decision and knows exactly what to expect regarding their hours and pay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Short-time working rules in the UK: A breakdown<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">To implement short-time working correctly, you need to be aware of several key rules. These protect both you and your employees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">\n<li><strong>Contractual clauses or consent:<\/strong> As we\u2019ve covered, you need either a pre-existing clause in the contract or fresh, written consent.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Time limits:<\/strong> If an employee is on short-time for four consecutive weeks or a total of six weeks in any 13-week period, they may be eligible to claim statutory redundancy pay.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Redundancy rights:<\/strong> The ability for an employee to claim redundancy is a crucial backstop that prevents employers from keeping staff on reduced pay indefinitely.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Guarantee pay:<\/strong> Employees may be entitled to a minimum payment from you, known as Statutory Guarantee Pay, for days they would normally work but are not given work.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Short-time working contract clause<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">If you operate in an industry with predictable fluctuations, like manufacturing or events, including a short-time working clause in your contracts from the start can be a smart move.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">A well-drafted clause should be specific. It needs to clearly state the circumstances under which it might be used, how pay will be calculated and how you will communicate with employees. Vague clauses that give you a blanket right to change hours are unlikely to hold up if challenged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The reasons for short-time working<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/01\/chefs-preparing-food-commercial-kitchen-1024x683.webp\" alt=\"Two chefs plating food in a professional kitchen with trays and cooking equipment\" class=\"wp-image-47168\" srcset=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/01\/chefs-preparing-food-commercial-kitchen-1024x683.webp 1024w, https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/01\/chefs-preparing-food-commercial-kitchen-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/01\/chefs-preparing-food-commercial-kitchen-768x512.webp 768w, https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/01\/chefs-preparing-food-commercial-kitchen-1536x1024.webp 1536w, https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/01\/chefs-preparing-food-commercial-kitchen-2048x1365.webp 2048w, https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/01\/chefs-preparing-food-commercial-kitchen-440x293.webp 440w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">Short-time working is a response to a temporary business need. It\u2019s a strategic alternative to redundancies when you anticipate that the downturn is not permanent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">Common reasons include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">\n<li><strong>Seasonal downturns:<\/strong> Common in hospitality or tourism.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Supply chain disruptions:<\/strong> A key supplier is unable to deliver materials.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Loss of a major client:<\/strong> A project is suddenly cancelled or postponed.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Wider economic pressures:<\/strong> A recession or crisis reduces customer demand.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How long can short-time working last?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">This is where the law provides a critical safeguard for employees. While there is no absolute maximum duration, an employee who receives less than half a week&#8217;s pay can claim for statutory redundancy pay if they have been laid off or kept on short-time working for:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">\n<li>Four or more consecutive weeks or;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A total of six weeks in any 13-week period (where no more than three of the weeks are consecutive).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">This rule prevents the system from being used unfairly and gives employees a way out if the &#8220;temporary&#8221; situation starts to feel permanent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Short-time working: Notice periods<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">You should give as much notice as is reasonably practicable before starting a period of short-time working. There is no statutory minimum notice period, but fairness and good employee relations dictate that you should provide clear communication ahead of time. The same applies when you are ready to bring employees back to their normal hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">Maintaining clear and open lines of communication is vital. Using a centralised <a href=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/products\/hr-software\/\">HR software<\/a> can help you send updates and keep records efficiently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">In the event of redundancies<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">If the downturn in work becomes permanent, the situation may transition from short-time working to a redundancy scenario. At this point, you must follow a fair redundancy process, including consultation and selecting employees for redundancy based on objective criteria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">An employee who has been on short-time working for the periods mentioned earlier (4+ consecutive weeks or 6 in 13) can give you written notice of their intention to claim redundancy. If you fail to provide a written counter-notice within seven days guaranteeing at least 13 weeks of continuous employment, their claim can proceed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How they work: Lay-offs and short-time working<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">It&#8217;s easy to mix these up, but the distinction is important.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">\n<li>Short-time working means an employee works reduced hours and is paid for the hours they work.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Lay-off means the employee is sent home and does no work for at least one full working day.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">Both are temporary solutions to a lack of work and both are subject to the same rules around contract clauses, consent and the right to claim redundancy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Changing the terms in an employment contract<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">Whether you have a specific clause or not, the best practice is always to seek agreement for a <a href=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/resources\/temporary-variation-of-contract\/\">temporary variation of contract<\/a>. This involves open consultation where you explain the situation and listen to feedback. Once you reach an agreement, document it in a letter that both you and the employee sign. This simple step can prevent a mountain of problems later. A clear <a href=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/resources\/onboarding-checklist\/\">onboarding checklist<\/a> for new hires can be adapted to ensure all variation steps are followed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Pay during lay-offs and short-time working<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/01\/cafe-credit-card-payment-menu-boards-1024x683.webp\" alt=\"Customer handing credit card to cashier at caf\u00e9 counter with visible food and drink menu\" class=\"wp-image-47173\" srcset=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/01\/cafe-credit-card-payment-menu-boards-1024x683.webp 1024w, https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/01\/cafe-credit-card-payment-menu-boards-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/01\/cafe-credit-card-payment-menu-boards-768x512.webp 768w, https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/01\/cafe-credit-card-payment-menu-boards-1536x1024.webp 1536w, https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/01\/cafe-credit-card-payment-menu-boards-2048x1365.webp 2048w, https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/01\/cafe-credit-card-payment-menu-boards-440x293.webp 440w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">Pay is naturally the biggest concern for employees. Here\u2019s how it works. For short-time working, you pay the employee for the hours they have worked. For days they are laid off (or non-working days under a short-time arrangement), they may be entitled to guarantee pay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Guarantee pay<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">This is a payment an employer must make, either based on the contract or the statutory minimum. The contractual rate cannot be lower than the statutory minimum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Statutory guarantee pay<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">If the employee\u2019s contract doesn&#8217;t provide for guarantee pay, they may be entitled to Statutory Guarantee Pay (SGP).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Eligibility<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">To be eligible for SGP, an employee must have been continuously employed for at least one month, be available for work and not have unreasonably refused an offer of suitable alternative work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Time limits<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">SGP is limited to a maximum of 5 days in any 3-month period. The daily rate is capped by the government and is updated each year. It&#8217;s a safety net, not a replacement for full pay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Holiday entitlement<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">Employees continue to accrue holiday entitlement as normal during a period of short-time working or lay-off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Benefits during lay-offs and short-time working<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">An employee&#8217;s continuity of service is not broken by a short-time working arrangement. This means they continue to accrue benefits like annual leave. Pension contributions may be affected depending on whether their earnings fall below the threshold for auto-enrolment during the period of reduced pay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Other work<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">An employee on short-time working can take another job to supplement their income, as long as their employment contract with you doesn&#8217;t prohibit it. Being flexible and supportive on this front can help maintain a good relationship during a difficult period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Avoiding discrimination<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">When selecting employees for short-time working, you must use fair and objective criteria. If your selection process is seen to disadvantage employees based on protected characteristics like age, gender or disability, you could face a discrimination claim. For example, selecting only <a href=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/resources\/employment-contract-for-part-time-employees\/\">part-time employees<\/a> for reduced hours could be indirect sex discrimination, as women are more likely to work part-time. Your selection criteria should be based on business needs, such as the area of the business where work has reduced. This is a vital part of your overall <a href=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/resources\/hr-compliance-essential-guide\/\">HR compliance<\/a> strategy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Download the full factsheet<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">Navigating short-time working requires care, empathy and a solid understanding of the rules. When handled correctly, it can be a powerful tool to protect your business and keep your team together through challenging times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">To help you manage this process with confidence, we&#8217;ve created a detailed factsheet that breaks down all the key steps and legal requirements. Download it now to keep on file for when you need it most.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons has-custom-font-size has-paragraph-2-m-font-size is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-1 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"#form\"><strong>Download the factsheet.<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column form-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div id=\"form\" class=\"wp-block-group form-v2-violet-box-shadow-pattern is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-employmentherocom2025-marketo-form-v2 is-layout-flow wp-block-marketo-form-v2-is-layout-flow\">\n                                                            <section class=\"eh_marketo_form-title-section eh_marketo_form-title-section--small\" aria-labelledby=\"marketo-form-title\">\n        <div class=\"eh_marketo_form-title-container\">\n                                        <h2 id=\"marketo-form-title\" class=\"eh_marketo_form-title\">To download the factsheet, we just need a few quick details.<\/h2>\n                    <\/div>\n            <\/section>\n                            <div class=\"eh_marketo_form-container_v2\" data-marketo-form=\"{&quot;is_multi_steps&quot;:false,&quot;form_data&quot;:[{&quot;base_url&quot;:&quot;\/\/hr.employmenthero.io&quot;,&quot;munchkin_id&quot;:&quot;387-SZZ-170&quot;,&quot;form_id&quot;:&quot;1737&quot;,&quot;css_classes&quot;:&quot;&quot;}],&quot;submit_text&quot;:&quot;Download now&quot;,&quot;success_handling_method&quot;:&quot;thank_you_page&quot;,&quot;redirect_url&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;thank_you_message&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;add_lead_linking_id&quot;:false,&quot;add_drift_campaign_id&quot;:false,&quot;drift_campaign_id&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;thank_you_page_id&quot;:&quot;32313&quot;,&quot;thank_you_page_url&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/thank-you\/downloadable\/resources\/?origin=short-time-contracts&amp;origin_id=3uERz5g1V6PEQ9YxAeElevDyIlrWVhehdEz9oMajiHZHyoGe3iKYY8JEwmDJbiPnz%2FtZvTaTgCKc95zn0b5qjg%3D%3D&quot;,&quot;progress_indicator_type&quot;:&quot;progress-bar&quot;,&quot;enable_revenue_hero&quot;:false,&quot;revenue_hero_router_id&quot;:&quot;4668&quot;,&quot;revenue_hero_thank_you_message&quot;:&quot;Thank you for booking!&quot;}\"><\/div>\n                                <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-content-justification-center is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-14 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is-content-justification-space-between is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-16 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\" style=\"margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--10)\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Related Resources<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-link-arrow is-style-link-arrow--2\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-btn-brand-background-color has-background wp-element-button\" href=\"\/resources\/\">View all<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-query blog-3-col-query-loop is-layout-flow wp-block-query-is-layout-flow\"><ul class=\"columns-3 alignfull wp-block-post-template is-layout-grid wp-container-core-post-template-is-layout-1 wp-block-post-template-is-layout-grid\"><li class=\"wp-block-post post-50517 resources type-resources status-publish has-post-thumbnail hentry resource-type-downloadable\">\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-border-color has-neutral-100-border-color has-white-background-color has-background is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-19 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\" style=\"border-width:1px;min-height:100%\"><figure style=\"aspect-ratio:16\/9;width:100%;height:100%; padding-bottom:0;padding-top:0;margin-bottom:0;\" class=\"wp-block-post-featured-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/resources\/software-integrations-hospitality-retail\/\" target=\"_self\"  style=\"height:100%\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/05\/Integrations-for-hospitality-retail.webp\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"Top 7 \u200b\u200bSoftware Integrations for Hospitality and Retail\" style=\"width:100%;height:100%;object-fit:cover;\" srcset=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/05\/Integrations-for-hospitality-retail.webp 1600w, https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/05\/Integrations-for-hospitality-retail-300x169.webp 300w, https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/05\/Integrations-for-hospitality-retail-1024x576.webp 1024w, https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/05\/Integrations-for-hospitality-retail-768x432.webp 768w, https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/05\/Integrations-for-hospitality-retail-1536x864.webp 1536w, https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/05\/Integrations-for-hospitality-retail-440x248.webp 440w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group blog-3-col-details wp-container-content-3 is-vertical is-content-justification-left is-nowrap is-layout-flex 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Discover the top 7 integrations that actually work.&hellip; <\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<a style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;\" class=\"wp-elements-9dfcbcb7662772ecb2d671e8976a6c51 wp-block-read-more has-text-color has-violet-500-color\" href=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/resources\/software-integrations-hospitality-retail\/\" target=\"_self\">Read more<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">: Top 7 \u200b\u200bSoftware Integrations for Hospitality and Retail<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/resources\/software-integrations-hospitality-retail\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"group-block-link\"><\/a>\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-50389 resources type-resources status-publish has-post-thumbnail hentry resource-type-webinar search-tags-upcoming-webinar\">\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-border-color has-neutral-100-border-color has-white-background-color has-background is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-22 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\" style=\"border-width:1px;min-height:100%\"><figure style=\"aspect-ratio:16\/9;width:100%;height:100%; padding-bottom:0;padding-top:0;margin-bottom:0;\" class=\"wp-block-post-featured-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/resources\/mental-health-awareness-week-managers-webinar\/\" target=\"_self\"  style=\"height:100%\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" src=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/05\/Landing-Page-UK-Webinar-26.05-Mental-Health-Awareness-Week-_.webp\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"Mental Health Awareness Week 2026: Breakfast Sessions for Managers That Care\" style=\"width:100%;height:100%;object-fit:cover;\" srcset=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/05\/Landing-Page-UK-Webinar-26.05-Mental-Health-Awareness-Week-_.webp 1280w, https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/05\/Landing-Page-UK-Webinar-26.05-Mental-Health-Awareness-Week-_-300x169.webp 300w, https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/05\/Landing-Page-UK-Webinar-26.05-Mental-Health-Awareness-Week-_-1024x576.webp 1024w, https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/05\/Landing-Page-UK-Webinar-26.05-Mental-Health-Awareness-Week-_-768x432.webp 768w, https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/05\/Landing-Page-UK-Webinar-26.05-Mental-Health-Awareness-Week-_-440x248.webp 440w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group blog-3-col-details wp-container-content-6 is-vertical is-content-justification-left is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-21 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\" style=\"margin-top:0;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--10);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--10);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--10);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--10)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-20 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\"><div style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600\" class=\"taxonomy-resource-type eh-resource-type wp-block-post-terms\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-block-post-terms-icon\" width=\"20\" height=\"20\" alt=\"icon-blog\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/02\/Blog.png\"><a href=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/resources\/webinar\/\" rel=\"tag\">Webinars<\/a><\/div>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/resources\/mental-health-awareness-week-managers-webinar\/\" target=\"_self\" >Mental Health Awareness Week 2026: Breakfast Sessions for Managers That Care<\/a><\/h3>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt has-text-color has-contrast-2-color has-small-font-size wp-container-content-5\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">Join 91±¬ΑΟ&#8217;s free 5-day webinar series for UK managers this Mental Health Awareness Week. Five sessions on real scenarios.&hellip; <\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<a style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;\" class=\"wp-elements-9dfcbcb7662772ecb2d671e8976a6c51 wp-block-read-more has-text-color has-violet-500-color\" href=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/resources\/mental-health-awareness-week-managers-webinar\/\" target=\"_self\">Read more<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">: Mental Health Awareness Week 2026: Breakfast Sessions for Managers That Care<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/resources\/mental-health-awareness-week-managers-webinar\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"group-block-link\"><\/a>\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-50314 resources type-resources status-publish has-post-thumbnail hentry resource-type-templates\">\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-border-color has-neutral-100-border-color has-white-background-color has-background is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-25 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\" style=\"border-width:1px;min-height:100%\"><figure style=\"aspect-ratio:16\/9;width:100%;height:100%; padding-bottom:0;padding-top:0;margin-bottom:0;\" class=\"wp-block-post-featured-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/resources\/probationary-period-review-template\/\" target=\"_self\"  style=\"height:100%\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1728\" height=\"1014\" src=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/Probation-Period-Review-Template-UK-.webp\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"Probationary Period Review Template for UK Employers\" style=\"width:100%;height:100%;object-fit:cover;\" srcset=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/Probation-Period-Review-Template-UK-.webp 1728w, https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/Probation-Period-Review-Template-UK--300x176.webp 300w, https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/Probation-Period-Review-Template-UK--1024x601.webp 1024w, https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/Probation-Period-Review-Template-UK--768x451.webp 768w, https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/Probation-Period-Review-Template-UK--1536x901.webp 1536w, https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/Probation-Period-Review-Template-UK--864x508.webp 864w, https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/Probation-Period-Review-Template-UK--440x258.webp 440w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1728px) 100vw, 1728px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group blog-3-col-details wp-container-content-9 is-vertical is-content-justification-left is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-24 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\" style=\"margin-top:0;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--10);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--10);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--10);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--10)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-23 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\"><div style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600\" class=\"taxonomy-resource-type eh-resource-type wp-block-post-terms\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-block-post-terms-icon\" width=\"20\" height=\"20\" alt=\"icon-blog\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/02\/Blog.png\"><a href=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/resources\/templates\/\" rel=\"tag\">Templates<\/a><\/div>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/resources\/probationary-period-review-template\/\" target=\"_self\" >Probationary Period Review Template for UK Employers<\/a><\/h3>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt has-text-color has-contrast-2-color has-small-font-size wp-container-content-8\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">Download our free probation review template for UK employers and learn about structuring meetings, giving feedback, and navigating probations. <\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<a style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;\" class=\"wp-elements-9dfcbcb7662772ecb2d671e8976a6c51 wp-block-read-more has-text-color has-violet-500-color\" href=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/resources\/probationary-period-review-template\/\" target=\"_self\">Read more<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">: Probationary Period Review Template for UK Employers<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/resources\/probationary-period-review-template\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"group-block-link\"><\/a>\n<\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Learn how short-time contracts work in the UK. Understand legal rules, pay entitlements and redundancy rights for compliant short-time working.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":47165,"menu_order":0,"template":"","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"_lite_auth_enabled":false,"_lite_auth_trigger_method":"scroll","_lite_auth_scroll_percent":25,"_lite_auth_click_element_query":"","exclude_from_algolia":false,"reading_time":"7 min read","display_reading_time":false,"registration_open_datetime":"","registration_close_datetime":"","event_start_datetime":"","event_end_datetime":"","time_zone":"","location":"","link_video":"","video_type":"","file_video":"","download_content_type":"file","download_file":"47167","download_url":"","download_cta_label":"","footnotes":""},"resource-type":[174],"topic":[282],"industry":[],"search-tags":[],"audience":[],"business-size":[],"product-tag":[],"funnel-stage":[],"region":[],"pain-point":[],"persona":[],"post_features":[],"class_list":["post-47162","resources","type-resources","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","resource-type-factsheets","topic-compliance-legal"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/resources\/47162","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/resources"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/resources"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/resources\/47162\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":47191,"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/resources\/47162\/revisions\/47191"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/47165"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=47162"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"resource-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/resource-type?post=47162"},{"taxonomy":"topic","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/topic?post=47162"},{"taxonomy":"industry","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/industry?post=47162"},{"taxonomy":"search-tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/search-tags?post=47162"},{"taxonomy":"audience","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/audience?post=47162"},{"taxonomy":"business-size","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/business-size?post=47162"},{"taxonomy":"product-tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product-tag?post=47162"},{"taxonomy":"funnel-stage","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/funnel-stage?post=47162"},{"taxonomy":"region","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/region?post=47162"},{"taxonomy":"pain-point","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pain-point?post=47162"},{"taxonomy":"persona","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/persona?post=47162"},{"taxonomy":"post_features","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/post_features?post=47162"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}