Library
25 plain-English guides on UK employment rights. Every article is written and reviewed by a panel UK solicitor before publication.
Parental Bereavement Leave — 2 weeks off after losing a child
If your child under 18 dies (including stillbirth from 24 weeks), you can take 2 weeks of Parental Bereavement Leave from day one. Statutory Parental Bereavement Pay applies after 26 weeks' service.
Employment status — worker vs employee vs self-employed
Your rights depend on your status. Employees get the full set; "limb (b) workers" get holiday, minimum wage and discrimination protection but not unfair dismissal; the genuinely self-employed get almost none.
Fixed-term contracts — your rights and the 4-year rule
Fixed-term employees have the right not to be treated less favourably than comparable permanent employees. After 4 years of successive fixed-term contracts you are normally treated as permanent.
Raising a grievance — how the ACAS Code works
A grievance is the formal way to raise a workplace concern. The ACAS Code sets the minimum: put it in writing, attend a hearing, get a written outcome and a right of appeal.
Flexible working — your day-one right to ask
Since 6 April 2024 every employee can make a statutory flexible working request from day one — up to 2 requests in any 12 months. The employer has 2 months to respond.
Agency workers — the 12-week parity rule
After 12 weeks in the same role you are entitled to the same basic terms (pay, hours, holiday, breaks) as if you had been hired directly. Day-one rights cover access to facilities and notice of vacancies.
Unlawful deductions from wages — when your employer can and can't deduct
An employer cannot deduct from your wages unless required by law (tax, NI), authorised by your contract, or you've agreed in writing before the deduction. Otherwise it's unlawful and you can claim at tribunal.
Carer's Leave — your right to one week off a year
From 6 April 2024 every employee can take up to one week of unpaid Carer's Leave per year from day one of employment, to provide or arrange care for a dependant with a long-term care need.
Constructive dismissal — when you can resign and still claim
Constructive dismissal is when your employer's conduct is so serious it breaches the implied term of trust and confidence and you resign in response. You can claim unfair dismissal at tribunal.
Right to be accompanied at disciplinary and grievance hearings
Every worker can be accompanied by a colleague or trade union representative at any disciplinary or grievance hearing. Refusal of the right or a reasonably-requested companion is unlawful.
Workplace discrimination — protected characteristics and types
The Equality Act 2010 protects 9 characteristics. Discrimination can be direct, indirect, by association, by perception, or via harassment + victimisation.
Whistleblowing — protected disclosures and your rights
The Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 protects workers who report wrongdoing in the public interest. There is no qualifying period; dismissal for whistleblowing is automatically unfair.
Paternity leave + Shared Parental Leave — what fathers and partners get
Up to 2 weeks of paternity leave at £187.18/week SPP. Shared Parental Leave lets parents share up to 50 weeks of leave + 37 weeks of pay.
Disciplinary procedure — what to expect
The ACAS Code sets the minimum: written notice of allegations, a hearing where you can put your case, a right to be accompanied, and a right of appeal.
Settlement agreements — what they are and what to watch for
A settlement agreement waives your right to claim against the employer in exchange for a payment. It is only binding once a qualified adviser (usually a solicitor) signs it off.
Statutory Sick Pay — the £118.75/week basics
SSP is £118.75/week from 6 April 2025, payable for up to 28 weeks, after the first 3 waiting days. Your contract may pay more.
Unfair dismissal — what counts and the qualifying period
Generally you need 2 years' service to claim ordinary unfair dismissal. From October 2026 most dismissals become protected from day one (ERA 2025).
Maternity rights and pay — the headline numbers
Up to 52 weeks of leave; 39 weeks of SMP (90% of pay for 6 weeks, then £187.18/week). Time off for antenatal appointments is paid.
TUPE — when your job transfers to a new employer
TUPE 2006 transfers your employment, terms and continuity of service to the new employer. You usually cannot be dismissed or have terms harmonised down because of the transfer.
Workplace pension auto-enrolment — the basics
Most workers aged 22+ earning over £10,000 are auto-enrolled. Minimum total contribution is 8% (3% employer, 5% you), of qualifying earnings.
How much notice does my employer have to give me?
UK statutory minimum notice — 1 week per year of service, capped at 12 weeks. Your contract may give more.
Workplace harassment — your employer's duty
Employers must take "reasonable steps" to prevent sexual harassment (Worker Protection Act 2023). From October 2026 the bar rises to "all reasonable steps".
Holiday entitlement — the UK statutory minimum
5.6 weeks per year, capped at 28 days for a 5-day-a-week worker. Public holidays may be included.
Subject-access requests — how to ask for your data
Under UK GDPR you have the right to ask for a copy of personal data your employer holds about you. Free; one calendar month to respond.
Statutory redundancy pay — what you get
Half a week to one and a half weeks per year of service, capped at 20 years and £700/week (from 6 April 2025).