Introduction (588 words)

There are over 70 pieces of employment legislation that govern our rights at work, from contractual rights such as a right to be paid ...

1. The employment law system (5093 words)

Tribunal claims must be brought within specified time limits. In most cases this is three months from the date of the act complained of ...

2. Categories of worker (2007 words)

Some statutory rights apply only to employees while others apply more widely to workers. This means that it is sometimes necessary to have an ...

3. The employment contract (4254 words)

All contracts of employment contain both express terms, which are those that have been specifically agreed - whether verbally or in writing - either ...

4. Pay and conditions (964 words)

Print technicians Robert Kershaw and Barry Whitmore worked a shift rota of four days on and four days off, with a shift cycle being ...

5. Union and collective organisation (783 words)

A union can apply to the Central Arbitration Committee (CAC) for statutory recognition under the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 if ...

6. Discrimination (14468 words)

There is specific legislation that prohibits discrimination on grounds of sex (including gender reassignment), race, disability, religion or belief, sexual orientation and unequal pay ...

7. Sick pay and sickness absence (413 words)

Ms McKenna was off sick while pregnant, and had to use up much of her occupational sick pay entitlement. She argued that her employer ...

8. Leave for working parents and carers (598 words)

Employees with more than a year's service are entitled to take up to 13 weeks' unpaid leave to care for a child aged five ...

9. Industrial action (311 words)

The in-flight catering company Gate Gourmet dispute in 2005 highlighted the defects in UK law relating to industrial action. ...

10. Dismissal (6072 words)

The right to claim unfair dismissal is generally available only to employees who have at least a year's continuous service. However, there are certain ...

11. Redundancy (2369 words)

Mr North, a senior editor, was made redundant in a cost-saving exercise. He claimed that there was no redundancy situation since there was still ...

12. Business transfers and contracting out (3338 words)

If a business transfers from one employer (the transferor) to another (the transferee) its employees are protected by the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of ...