10. BASIC LEGAL RIGHTS — A SUMMARY

Basic statutory rights available to workers

Everyone who works legally in the UK, including casual workers, migrant workers, student workers and workers on zero hours contracts, is entitled to a set of basic statutory rights covering:

• wages, including the National Minimum Wage;

• hours of work (working time and rest breaks);

• annual leave;

• an itemised payslip;

• what deductions are allowed from wages;

• health and safety;

• sick pay;

• terms and conditions;

• the right not to be refused work because you belong to a trade union;

• the right to be accompanied to a discipline or grievance meeting by a co-worker or a trade union rep of your choosing; and

• legal protection from being badly treated for speaking out about conditions at work (whistleblowing).

An individual is entitled to these rights if they have agreed to do some work in person in return for payment (usually money). They still have these rights even if the agreement is not in writing.

Each of these rights is explained in summary below but more detail is provided in LRD’s annual employment law guide Law at Work (www.lrdpublications.org.uk/publications.php?pub=BK&iss=1723).