Your rights at work

UK employment laws are a series of basic human rights that are in place to make sure that both employees and employers are protected. If you have a problem at work, you should speak to your line manager or someone from HR. If you are unable to sort out the issue informally with your employer, you can contact ACAS for free advice.

Equality Act (2010)

Discrimination means treating you differently because of who you are. It covers race, religious beliefs, gender, sex, sexuality, disability age, marital status, and pregnancy and maternity.

Equality law protects you from bullying and harassment. If you are disabled, your employer must also make ‘reasonable adjustments’ so that you are able to carry out your work.

Health and Safety at Work (1974)

Employers have a legal duty to carry out risk assessments and ensure that workplaces are safe for the people who work there. This covers a wide range of activities including manual handling, fire safety, managing hazardous substances and even looking at a computer screen.

Your employer should provide ‘personal protective equipment’ to anyone who is exposed to a health and safety risk at work. For example, hard hat, eye protection or ear protectors. This also applies to agency workers.

Self-employed people are also protected by Health and Safety at Work Act if they are working from a client’s premises.

Basic employment rights

These rights apply to all workers and employees including those people who work part time or on a casual basis.

• You must receive written terms of employment and a payslip showing any deductions from your pay.
• You employer must pay you the national minimum wage.
• You are entitled to regular breaks at work and paid holidays.
• You should not be asked to work for more than 48 hours in one week – this is known as the working time directive. You can choose to work more hours than this through an agreement known as ‘opting out’ but your employer cannot force you to do this.

If you are an employee there are extra rights including statutory sick pay, maternity, paternity, and adoption leave and pay. After two years working for the same employer, you are also entitled to redundancy pay and protection from unfair dismissal.

Your employer may offer additional benefits, such as uniform, reimbursement of travelling expenses, mobile phone, and laptop for work use.

Pensions

A pension is a way of saving money so you can have an income in retirement. All employers must offer a workplace pension scheme and workers are automatically enrolled. You may opt out of paying into a pension.

Retirement age in the UK is usually 68 years old but you may be able to draw down some of your pension from the age of 55.

Protection from abuse at work

A trade union is an organisation made up of members who usually work in a specific type of workplace. They negotiate with employers about pay and conditions at work. Your employer must not treat you unfavourably because you are a member of a union.

Unions can support members if they have problems at work. They also provide legal and financial advice as well as educational opportunities.

Labour exploitation is a form of modern slavery and involves forcing people to work long hours for little or no wages. It occurs in businesses of any size and in any country, including the UK, where it is illegal. Employers must do everything they can to prevent modern slavery happening in their business.

If you are worried that someone you know is being abused by their employer, you can call the Modern Slavery Helpline. The helpline is confidential.