Category: Rights and Regulation

Working Hours The average working week cannot exceed 48 hours. The average can be calculated over 17 weeks.  Work related training or travel where it is part of the duties and working lunches must be included as average working hours. It is possible for employees to agree in writing to work longer than 48 hours.  […]

Maternity Leave All pregnant employees and new mothers (regardless of length of service and hours worked) are entitled to  paid time off for anti-natal care, normal sick rights for pregnancy related sickness and 52 weeks maternity leave. General health and safety laws have implications in relation to women who are or have been pregnant, within […]

Anti-discrimination Legislation It is unlawful to discriminate in recruitment or in employment on the basis of sex (including pregnancy and maternity) marital status, partnership status, gender reassignment, disability, race, age, sexual orientation, religion, belief, trade union membership or non-membership or status as full or part-time worker.  It is also unlawful to discriminate by association i.e. […]

Gender Discrimination Sex discrimination legislation covers discrimination on the grounds of sex, pregnancy, maternity, marital status, civil partnership status or gender reassignment.   A direct discrimination would occur where a woman is dismissed because of pregnancy or maternity leave.  Indirect discrimination could occur if a job was stated to be available only to somebody able to […]

Harassment Discrimination law  covers  harassment.An employer must not harass a person who  is his employee or has applied for employment, in relation to a protected ground. An employer is liable for harassment by his employees unless he took all reasonable steps to prevent it. Harassment may cover a broad range of behaviours and circumstances. Harassment includes unwanted […]

Candidate Selection A job description should not contain requirements which are not directly related to the job.  It is unlawful for a job advertisement to specify that an applicant must be a particular gender, race etc., unless this is a genuine occupational, qualification or requirement. Advertisements must not imply that the candidate’s chance of success […]

Overview Victimisation is prohibited by the Equality act 2010. In broad terms, victimisation occurs where a worker is treated less favourably because of having raised a complaint, assisted another in raising a complaint of discrimination or the employer reasonably suspects of so doing. A person victimises another if he subjects that other to disadvantage because […]

Restrictions on Employment of Young People Under the Children and Young Persons Act, no child under 13 may be employed at all.  There are very limited exceptions such as e.g. acting.  Working hours are strictly controlled and a Local Authority permit is required.  Persons under 16 may not be employed in manufacturing or dangerous activities. […]

Minimum Wage The National Minimum Wage is an hourly rate. It is determined by the number of hours which the worker works.The national minimum wage is payable to workers who work in the United Kingdom. Formerly, there were separate agricultural minimum wages which has recently been abolished in respect of England. The National minimum wage […]

Whistleblowing The Public Interest Disclosures Act provide a system to protect employees from the consequences of whistleblowing. The policy is to promote employees in revealing wrongdoing risks and shortcomings in workplaces without fear of reprisal. Whistleblowing protects workers. They are persons employed under employment contracts, certain contractors, agency workers, some work experience students and some […]