Workers Rights in the UK

Study Notes

Workers Rights

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)

Employment Contracts

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)

Discrimination Law

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

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

Unfair Dismissal

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

Workers Rights

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)

Employment Contracts

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)

Discrimination Law

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

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

Unfair Dismissal

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

Description

Test your knowledge of workers' rights in the UK, including fair pay, working hours, safe working environment, and freedom from discrimination. Learn about the relevant laws and regulations that protect workers' rights.