LRD guides and handbook May 2013

Law at Work 2013

Chapter 2

Main employment rights

The box below sets out the main employment rights applying to workers and employees.

Rights covering all workers

• Information about pay, notice and holiday entitlement;

• National Minimum Wage (payable to almost all workers — see Chapter 4);

• Protection against unlawful pay deductions;

• Equal pay;

• Working hours and breaks;

• Holidays;

• Right not to be refused work because of union membership;

• Right to be accompanied at a disciplinary/grievance hearing;

• Protection against discrimination on all unlawful grounds;

• Protection against detriment for whistleblowing; and

• Protection against detriment and right not to be refused work because of a blacklist.

Rights covering employees only

• Written statement of particulars;

• Statutory minimum notice;

• Protection from unfair dismissal;

• Implied contract terms (such as mutual trust and confidence);

• Time off for union duties and training;

• Time off for union activities;

• Time off for safety reps;

• Time off for public duties;

• Time off for antenatal care;

• Statutory maternity pay and leave;

• Statutory paternity pay and leave;

• Statutory adoption pay and leave;

• Parental and dependency leave;

• Right to request flexible working;

• Right to request time off for study or training;

• Protection in business transfers (TUPE);

• Redundancy pay and rights;

• Guarantee pay on layoffs; and

• Medical suspension pay.

Agency workers also have specific statutory rights.