# Guides

> Plain-English guides to onboarding new starters and making company knowledge easy to find, written by Jack Stovell, Forematter's founder.

Source: https://forematter.com/guides/

- [Do you need an employee handbook? What UK law actually requires](https://forematter.com/guides/employee-handbook-uk-law/) ([Markdown](https://forematter.com/guides/employee-handbook-uk-law.md)): Whether UK law requires a handbook (it doesn't), what must be in writing anyway, the Acas Code's 25% rule, and health and safety paperwork.
- [Internal knowledge bases: how to keep one people actually use](https://forematter.com/guides/internal-knowledge-base/) ([Markdown](https://forematter.com/guides/internal-knowledge-base.md)): Why internal wikis rot and the habits that keep one trustworthy: owners, review dates, one version that counts, and tracking unanswered questions.
- [Onboarding buddies: how to set up a buddy scheme that helps](https://forematter.com/guides/onboarding-buddy/) ([Markdown](https://forematter.com/guides/onboarding-buddy.md)): How to run an onboarding buddy scheme: choosing buddies, protecting their time, week-one tasks, a checklist, and ending it well.
- [How to write an onboarding plan for a new starter's first weeks](https://forematter.com/guides/onboarding-plan-first-weeks/) ([Markdown](https://forematter.com/guides/onboarding-plan-first-weeks.md)): A paced onboarding plan with named owners: before day one, day one, week one, month one and months two to three, plus a one-page template.
- [Probation periods in the UK: what the law says (2026 and 2027 changes)](https://forematter.com/guides/probation-periods-uk/) ([Markdown](https://forematter.com/guides/probation-periods-uk.md)): UK probation periods: not a legal requirement, day-one rights, the unfair dismissal qualifying period falling to six months from 1 January 2027, and running reviews.
- [Right to work checks: a plain-English guide for UK employers](https://forematter.com/guides/right-to-work-checks-employer-guide/) ([Markdown](https://forematter.com/guides/right-to-work-checks-employer-guide.md)): Right to work checks for UK employers: manual, digital and online methods, record keeping, follow-ups, penalties and the 1 October 2026 changes.
- [UK employee onboarding checklist: before day one, day one and the first weeks](https://forematter.com/guides/uk-employee-onboarding-checklist/) ([Markdown](https://forematter.com/guides/uk-employee-onboarding-checklist.md)): A time-ordered UK onboarding checklist: legal duties with deadlines (right to work, written statement, HMRC, pensions, health and safety) and good practice.
- [Written statement of employment particulars: what it must include (UK)](https://forematter.com/guides/written-statement-of-employment-particulars/) ([Markdown](https://forematter.com/guides/written-statement-of-employment-particulars.md)): What the UK written statement must include on day one and within two months, who gets one, how it differs from a contract, and free templates.