Basic Employment Rights Available to all Employees

Basic Employment Rights Available to all Employees

Rights Relating to Contract of Employment

  • Every employee has the right to a written statement of employment particulars within two months of start date.

  • This document describes the terms and conditions of employment, such as job title, hours of work, salary, and holiday entitlement.

Right to Fair Pay

  • Employees have the right to be paid at least the National Minimum Wage or National Living Wage, depending on their age.

  • It is illegal for employers to make deductions from wages or salary except in certain circumstances, for example, tax and national insurance.

Right to Equal Treatment

  • Laws such as the Equality Act 2010 protect employees from discrimination relating to protected characteristics, including age, sex, race, religion, disability, transgender identity, and sexual orientation.

  • Employees also have the right to equal pay for equal work regardless of gender.

Rights Relating to Time Off

  • Employees have the right to 28 days’ paid holiday each year (pro-rata for part-time workers), including public holidays.

  • Employees are entitled to time off for medical appointment, or emergencies, though this may not always be paid.

  • Employees have the right to statutory sick pay if they are off work due to illness.

  • Parents have the right to maternity, paternity, adoption and parental leave.

Rights Relating to Health and Safety at Work

  • Employers must comply with health and safety laws to provide a safe working environment.

  • Employees have a right to refuse to work in conditions they reasonably believe are unsafe, without fear of dismissal or disciplinary action.

Dismissal and Redundancy Rights

  • Employees have protection from unfair dismissal, they cannot be dismissed without a good reason and employers must follow a fair process.

  • If made redundant, employees have the right to a notice period, consultation, the option for suitable alternative work, and possibly redundancy pay depending on how long they have been with the company.

Right to Request Flexible Working

  • After 26 weeks of employment, employees have the right to ask for flexible working - this could be changing hours, days or the place of work (for instance, working from home).

Remember that laws relating to employment rights can change, so always keep up to date with any new legislation or amendments.