Workers Rights in the UK

Study Notes

Right to fair pay: National Minimum Wage Act 1998 ensures a minimum hourly wage for workers
Right to fair working hours: Working Time Regulations 1998 stipulates maximum working hours, rest breaks, and holidays
Right to a safe working environment: Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 requires employers to ensure a safe and healthy work environment
Right to freedom from discrimination: Equality Act 2010 protects against discrimination based on protected characteristics (e.g., age, gender, race)

Types of contracts:
- Fixed-term contracts: limited duration, specifies end date
- Permanent contracts: no end date, ongoing employment
- Zero-hours contracts: no guaranteed hours, flexible schedule
Key terms:
- Implied terms: duties, obligations, and rights implied by law (e.g., duty of mutual trust and confidence)
- Express terms: written or verbal agreements between employer and employee (e.g., job description, salary)

The Equality Act 2010 protects against discrimination based on:
- Protected characteristics: age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation
Types of discrimination:
- Direct discrimination: treating someone less favorably due to a protected characteristic
- Indirect discrimination: policies or practices that disproportionately affect a group with a protected characteristic
- Harassment: unwanted conduct related to a protected characteristic

Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974:
- Employers' duties: ensure a safe working environment, provide training, and conduct risk assessments
- Employees' duties: take reasonable care for their own safety and that of others
Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) 2013: employers must report certain workplace accidents, diseases, and near-misses

Employment Rights Act 1996: outlines the process for unfair dismissal claims
Automatically unfair reasons for dismissal:
- Pregnancy or maternity
- Family-related reasons (e.g., parental leave, adoption)
- Whistleblowing
- Assertion of statutory rights (e.g., minimum wage, working hours)
Fair reasons for dismissal:
- Conduct (e.g., misconduct, poor performance)
- Capability (e.g., illness, injury)
- Redundancy
- Some other substantial reason

National Minimum Wage Act 1998 ensures a minimum hourly wage for workers
Working Time Regulations 1998 stipulates maximum working hours, rest breaks, and holidays
Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 requires employers to ensure a safe and healthy work environment
Equality Act 2010 protects against discrimination based on protected characteristics (e.g., age, gender, race)

Fixed-term contracts: limited duration, specifies end date
Permanent contracts: no end date, ongoing employment
Zero-hours contracts: no guaranteed hours, flexible schedule
Implied terms: duties, obligations, and rights implied by law (e.g., duty of mutual trust and confidence)
Express terms: written or verbal agreements between employer and employee (e.g., job description, salary)

Equality Act 2010 protects against discrimination based on:
- Age
- Disability
- Gender reassignment
- Marriage and civil partnership
- Pregnancy and maternity
- Race
- Religion or belief
- Sex
- Sexual orientation
Types of discrimination:
- Direct discrimination: treating someone less favorably due to a protected characteristic
- Indirect discrimination: policies or practices that disproportionately affect a group with a protected characteristic
- Harassment: unwanted conduct related to a protected characteristic

Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974:
- Employers' duties: ensure a safe working environment, provide training, and conduct risk assessments
- Employees' duties: take reasonable care for their own safety and that of others
Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) 2013:
- Employers must report certain workplace accidents, diseases, and near-misses

Employment Rights Act 1996: outlines the process for unfair dismissal claims
Automatically unfair reasons for dismissal:
- Pregnancy or maternity
- Family-related reasons (e.g., parental leave, adoption)
- Whistleblowing
- Assertion of statutory rights (e.g., minimum wage, working hours)
Fair reasons for dismissal:
- Conduct (e.g., misconduct, poor performance)
- Capability (e.g., illness, injury)
- Redundancy
- Some other substantial reason