Housesitters' rights

An employment tribunal has ruled that individuals who house-sit while the owners are away, perhaps to feed their pets or ensure that the house is occupied, have the right to be paid the National Minimum Wage. It held that house-sitting agency, Homewatch was liable to pay its workers for all of the hours they were present in the house other than when asleep. Employment tribunal rulings apply only to the case being heard and do not create precedent. However, the ruling means that other tribunals are likely to adopt a similar test.