Employment Issues
As an employee you have extensive rights under legislation, much of which has been introduced quite recently.
Your rights and privileges include:
- Rights to Paid Holiday
- Rights to Maternity Leave
- Rights to Parental Leave
- Protection from Discrimination
- Security from Summary Dismissal
You also have other rights at the workplace under the Human Rights Act 1998.
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Holidays
Every worker in the UK is entitled to a minimum of 24 working days paid holiday per annum including public holidays (to increase to 28 days from April 2009). (Note: these are as per your normal working week so that if you work part-time for 8 hours per week you are entitled to four weeks paid holiday at your normal remuneration of 8 hours per week).
Maternity Leave
If you are female and have time off work to have a baby, you have the right to return to work within a given time period and to resume your job on the same terms and conditions. Both parents of young children up to the age of 5 are entitled to (unpaid) leave of 8 weeks during the first five years. There are special provisions, concerning parents with disabled children.
Discrimination
Workers have statutory protection from discrimination on the grounds of sex, sexual orientation, religion, race age or disability.
Job Security
Provided you are not in breach of contract you cannot be terminated from your job without being properly compensated, provided you have at least one year's continuous service.
For further information please contact Robert Hill, Tony Hatton or Melanie Saville.
