LRD guides and handbook May 2003

Law at work 2003

Introduction (1666 words)

This year a number of key changes to employment law have come into force. From 6 April 2003 pregnant woman have improved rights to ...

1. The employment law system (3543 words)

In the UK there are two systems of law. Statutory law is the law enacted by Parliament. Statutory law provides the framework for most ...

2. Categories of worker (3609 words)

An individual's status, that is whether they are an "employee" or a "worker", is very important in establishing their statutory rights. An "employee" is ...

3. Starting work and the employment contract (6631 words)

Most employers require a reference before they will employ someone. Young workers starting work for the first time are likely to come with references ...

4. Rights to pay and conditions (7019 words)

Under the National Minimum Wage Act 1998 UK workers have the right to a minimum wage, currently set at £4.20 an hour for those ...

5. Union and collective organisation (4618 words)

To gain access to many of the rights covered in this chapter the union needs to be recognised by the employer. The Employment Relations ...

6. Discrimination (8122 words)

The law currently prohibits discrimination on the following specific grounds: sex, race and nationality, disability and transsexuality. ...

7. Sick pay and sickness absence (2504 words)

Employees who do not have a right to better occupational sick pay from their employer should receive, when off work on account of sickness, ...

8. Leave for working parents (3730 words)

The rights of working parents to time off and pay to care for their children have improved significantly from 6 April 2003. The flat ...

9. Industrial action (5664 words)

The law relating to industrial action covers not just strikes but lockouts, go slows, working to rule, refusing to cross picket lines and refusing ...

10. Dismissal (10730 words)

Every year thousands of people pursue unfair dismissal claims. It is the largest single category of claims coming before tribunals. However, the right to ...

11. Redundancy (4941 words)

An employee is dismissed for redundancy, and may be entitled to redundancy pay, if either of the following occurs: ...

12. Business transfers and contracting out (4814 words)

If a company is sold (other than through a share transfer) or if a service is privatised or contracted out the Transfer of Undertakings ...

Further information (490 words)

Throughout the booklet references have been made to the relevant statutes. Copies of these can be obtained directly from The Stationery Office (tel: 0870 ...