Situation of employment
Your employment status determines your rights and responsibilities as an employee.
Principal types of employment status
Worker
A contract is an arrangement that requires you to perform work or provide services in exchange for money or other benefits. It could be a casual, freelance, or zero-hours contract.
Employer
An employment contract is required to work. Employees are all workers. However, employees have certain additional rights.
Shareholders of employees
You are under an employment contract.
Contractors and self-employed
Your business is your own. You are your boss and employment law does not apply to you. However, you do have some protections.
National Minimum Wage, National Living Wage
Your age and whether or not you are an apprentice will determine the minimum hourly rate that you can earn.
To be eligible for the National Minimum Wage, you must be at least 18 years old. The National Living Wage is applicable to those aged 23 and over.
Acas can be reached if you have any questions, or if you are concerned that you may be receiving the wrong rate.
Work time regulations
Full-time employees enjoy a variety of basic דיני עבודה rights and protections.
You:
You are not allowed to work more that 48 hours per week, unless you choose to waive the limit. Your employer must confirm this in writing.
You are entitled to 5.6 weeks of paid leave (28 days if your work 5 days per week) each year. Your employer may choose to include public holidays in this total
You are allowed to rest for at least 11 hours between work days. For example, if you leave work at 8pm, it is not permitted that you start work again until 7am on the next day.
You have the option of having an uninterrupted 24 hour work week or 48 hour work week.
You are entitled to a 20 minute rest break if you work for more than six hours in a shift. Additional breaks may be provided by your contract of employment.
There are some exceptions to these rights, including the armed forces or emergency services. However, the general principle is that workers should get at least 90 hours of rest per week.
You should always check your employment contract to see if you have different rights or more time off from work.
Part-time employees must have the same contractual rights and privileges as full-time employees in the same job or at a similar level.
Young people
Starting a job
The Job Start Payment is a benefit that helps you pay for the cost of starting a job. If you are a young person with certain benefits and have been out of work, you can apply.
Graduation from school
Some rights you have in the workplace are affected by your school leaving age. You can leave school if you turn 16 between the 1st of March and the 30th of September. This applies to students who are 16 or older. You can also leave school at the beginning of the Christmas holidays if you turn 16 between the 1st and 31st of February. This is the minimum age for school leave.
You can work full time if you are at school-leaving-age. However, there are restrictions for those under 18.
You cannot:
You shouldn’t do a job that you aren’t physically or mentally able to do.
Work in an environment that exposes you to toxic materials, chemical agents, or radiation
Do not work in extreme cold, heat, or vibration.
These circumstances are only permissible if you’re being trained, have an experienced person overseeing you, or if the risk is low.
These rules don’t apply to short-term or occasional work in a private family business or household.
There are additional restrictions if you are under the age of school leave.
If you are 14 or 15,
You can do light work, but you won’t be able work in factories or other industrial sites.
You can only work between 7am-7pm
Summer holidays: You can work up to 35 hours per week, or 8 hours per day (for those under 15).
If you work more than four hours per day, you must take one-hour rest breaks
You must take two consecutive weeks off holiday per year during school holidays
You cannot work in a job that could be detrimental to your education, health, or well-being.
You can’t work if you are under 14 except:
To participate in sports, modeling, sport, TV, or any other entertainment, you will need a performance license
to do odd jobs for a parent, relative or neighbour
Babysitting
Other rules could exist depending on your local authority’s by-laws. Contact your local authority for more information.
A permit to work issued by the local education department may also be required. This should be signed by both your employer and one parent.
Employment rights
ACAS offers a variety of advice on your rights at work.
Paid sick leave
After 7 days, you can provide evidence of your illness to request time off from work if you are sick. You can use your statutory holiday entitlement while you are sick.
For up to 28 weeks, the weekly rate for Statutory sick pay is PS95.85. Employers can offer more if they have a sick pay plan, but not less.
Gender reassignment
Your employer cannot discriminate against your need for time off due to gender reassignment. This should be treated in the same way as absenteeism due to injury or sickness.
What are your rights as a parent of a child?
You have certain rights as an employee if you are pregnant
Pregnancy care: Time off
Maternity leave
Maternity pay and allowance
Protection against discrimination, unfair treatment, or dismissal
Also, your workplace needs to be evaluated for safety and health risks.
You might be eligible if your partner has a baby.
One or two weeks of paternity leave paid on an ordinary basis
Paternity leave can be extended up to 26 weeks if the mother returns from work
Unpaid leave during antenatal appointments
Paid and shared parental leave
You might be eligible if you are taking time off from work to adopt a child.
Statutory adoption leave
Adoption pay according to law
Adoption leave can only be taken by one member of a couple. An alternative is paternity leave for the other partner.
Trade union membership
Unions protect the interests of their members at work by negotiating with employers about pay and conditions, and going along with members to grievance and disciplinary meetings.
Temporary and seasonal work
You will most likely be working seasonal jobs on a part-time, fixed-term or zero-hours contract.
Your employer cannot treat you differently if you are on a part-time or fixed-term contract. You should discuss your feelings with your employer and trade union representative if you feel that you have been treated less favorably.
Stopping the contract
Part-time workers must receive at least the notice specified in their contract or the statutory minimum notification period.
Fixed-term contracts are usually terminated automatically once they reach their agreed end date. Your employer doesn’t have to give notice.
Volunteering
Volunteers will not be entitled to the same rights and privileges as employees or workers. You won’t be given a contract of employment. You will usually receive a volunteer agreement that outlines what you’ll do and any training, as well as safety and health issues.
Discrimination
The Equality Act 2010 ensures that you can work in an environment that isn’t discriminatory against you.
Age
Disability
Gender reassignment, gender identity
Civil and marital partnership
Maternity and pregnancy
Race
Religion or belief
Sex
Sexual orientation
These are known as ‘protected attributes’. Any employer or colleague who discriminates against you based on them is in violation of the law.
There are many types of discrimination. If you feel you’re being unfairly disadvantageed, you might need to use one of these forms.
Direct discrimination
A protected characteristic is when one employee is treated less favorably than another. If a female job candidate is passed over in favor of a male applicant less qualified for the job, it could be because she is not suitable for the job.
Indirect discrimination
If a policy or work condition places someone with a protected characteristic at an advantage. Members of certain religious groups are at disadvantage when they have to ask all employees to be clean-shaven.
Harassment
If an employee is exposed or intimidated by offensive or intimidating behavior. Harassment can include giving someone a bad name or telling inappropriate jokes. Even if you’re not the target, this behavior can create an offensive environment. Don’t be afraid to speak up.
Victimisation
If you are treated unfairly or placed at a disadvantage as a result of trying to take or take action against discrimination. If you received a poor recommendation because of a discrimination complaint.
