Job Description
You are a department manager at a growing company in Nairobi, and one of your team members has requested maternity leave. As a manager, you are not quite sure how many days or months you are entitled to give them or even whether you need to pay them their full salary. Knowing HR Laws allows you to make a good, calculated decision to avoid potential legal action.
If you are managing people and don’t have an HR background, you are not alone. Many managers in Nairobi often feel overwhelmed by employment laws. Many managers across Kenya find themselves in positions where they’re responsible for teams, yet they’ve never received formal training on the legal aspects of people management.
The truth is, understanding HR laws is not just the HR department’s responsibility. Being a manager means you are responsible for employee relations, making decisions that may have legal implications in future.
Whether you’re handling leave requests, conducting performance reviews, or managing workplace conflicts, you need to know the legal boundaries within which you must operate.
- The Employment Act
The Employment Act, which was put in place in 2007, is one of the most important HR laws in Kenya. It governs almost every single aspect of the employee contract. This law covers everything from contracts to the right procedure to take when firing an employee.
As a manager, you interact with this regularly, whether you realize it or not. One of the most important parts of this law is the requirement for written employment contracts
One of the most important aspects of this law is the requirement for written employment contracts
Every employee must receive a written contract within a reasonable time, and this contract should clearly outline terms like job description, their salary, both net or gross, the working hours on a normal work day and notice periods.
As a manager, you should ensure that everyone on your team has a proper contract in place before they begin work
2. The Labour Relations Act
When people work together, conflicts are bound to happen. How you handle your team members can make the matter better or worse.
As one of the most important HR laws, as a manager, you need to make sure these rights are respected.
The act clearly states;
“The Act establishes procedures for handling disputes through conciliation, mediation, and arbitration. Before rushing to terminate an employee or take disciplinary action, familiarize yourself with the proper channels for resolving conflicts. In many cases, disputes can be settled internally through structured dialogue, saving your organization time, money, and reputational damage.”
3. The Work Injury Benefits Act
Accidents happen, even if your workplace is the safest place to work. When they happen, the Work Injury Benefit Act governs how you should compensate the injured employees.
Understanding this law helps you respond appropriately when team members are injured on the job.
Importantly, this Act also emphasizes the importance of accident prevention. Managers who create safer workplaces not only protect their teams but also reduce the financial burden of workplace injuries on their organizations.
4. The Employment and Labour Relations Court Act
When the conflicts can’t be resolved through internal channels, this is one of the HR laws that help managers navigate any situation.
This specialized court was established to handle employment and labour matters exclusively, and understanding how it operates helps you appreciate the seriousness of employment law compliance.
5. The Occupational Safety and Health Act
The Occupational Safety and Health Act place a legal duty on employers to provide a safe and healthy working environment for all employees.
As a manager, you’re a key player in fulfilling this obligation.
This law requires employers to assess workplace risks and implement measures to prevent accidents and occupational diseases. Whether your team members work in an office or a factory.
Investing in Your HR Knowledge
As a non-HR manager, you might feel like HR laws are someone else’s problem. The reality is that every decision you make as a manager can get you into legal trouble, and understanding HR laws isn’t optional anymore.
But this is just the beginning; employment law is very complex, and it continues to evolve. If you are serious about becoming a more effective and legally compliant manager, you need to know them.
Remember, you don’t need to do this alone; this is where Corporate Staffing comes in. Click here to explore our HR skills short course. Take the first step today by deepening your understanding of these critical HR laws, and watch as your confidence and effectiveness as a manager grow.
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