2. Categories of worker
[ch 2: page 30]The employment status laws determine what level and range of employment rights (if any) an individual can access. Reps need a basic understanding of these laws in order to advise members on their rights and more broadly, to be able to work collectively to combat casualisation. The spread of insecure working patterns, such as zero hours contracts and umbrella companies, following the economic downturn has highlighted the many defects in these laws.