Part-time workers

Part-time workers have important rights under the Part-time workers (Prevention of Less Favourable Treatment) Regulations 2000 (PTWR). The regulations give part-time workers the right to be treated no less favourably than a comparable full-time worker. This includes the right to the same contractual holiday entitlement (reduced pro rata to their hours). For example, part-time workers who do not normally work on Mondays or Fridays must not be treated less favourably than their full-time co-workers in relation to bank holidays and bank holiday pay.

The PTWR define a part-time worker as any worker whose hours are less than those of a full-time worker. The definition covers job shares, workers on zero hours contracts and short-hours contracts.

Any difference in treatment will be against the law unless it can be objectively justified.