What rights do employees have under employment law in the UK?
Employees in the UK have several rights and protections under employment law. Some key rights that employees are generally entitled to include: Minimum wage: Employees have the right to receive at least the National Minimum Wage or National Living Wage, depending on their age and circumstances. Working time: Employees have the right to limits on working hours, including rest breaks and a maximum average working week of 48 hours unless they opt out. Protection against discrimination: Employees are protected against discrimination based on various protected characteristics, such as age, race, gender, disability, religion and sexual orientation. Maternity and paternity rights: Pregnant employees have the right to maternity leave, statutory maternity pay and protection against unfair treatment. New parents, including adoptive parents, also have the right to paternity leave and pay. Parental leave: Employees have the right to take unpaid time off work to care for their child's welfare, including parental leave and time off for dependants in case of emergencies. Sick pay: Eligible employees are entitled to Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) when they are unable to work due to illness or injury. Annual leave: Employees have the right to a minimum amount of paid annual leave, usually 5.6 weeks (or 28 days) per year, including public holidays. Notice period and redundancy pay: Employees are generally entitled to receive a notice period before their employment ends and eligible employees may be entitled to redundancy pay if they are made redundant. Protection against unfair dismissal: Employees who have completed a minimum period of continuous service have protection against unfair dismissal and the right to challenge their dismissal through an employment tribunal. Health and safety protections: Employers are required to provide a safe and healthy working environment and employees have the right to raise health and safety concerns without facing retaliation. These are some fundamental rights, but employment law in the UK is extensive and covers various other areas, such as pensions, flexible working arrangements, whistleblowing protection and more. It's important to note that specific rights and entitlements may vary depending on factors such as employment status, length of service and individual employment contracts.