Employment rights and employment wrongs
Employment Rights
In the employment world there are a vast number of employment rights. The employment rights are contained in employment law which is always changing. As employment rights change it can be hard to keep up with the changes.
Employment rights can involve a number of areas of work. Employment rights can include what type of pay there is, how much holiday can be taken and how people can be recruited and dismissed by employers.
Some types of employment rights affect employees and employers differently.
Types of Employment rights
Under employment law there are a number of different types of employment rights.
Discrimination
Employment rights include employees being protected from being discriminated against. This can include protection against discrimination on grounds of gender, race and disability to name a few. The different types of employment rights of discrimination are contained in a number of different laws.
Equal Pay
Equal pay is an employment right that relates to discrimination. Under Equal pay law, everyone should get paid the same for the same type of work, regardless of whether they are male or female.
National Minimum Wage
Most workers in the UK have the right to be paid the National Minimum Wage.
Since October 2011, the National Minimum Wage is £6.19 for all workers aged 21 or over.
For ages between 18 -20 years old the rate is £4.98
For ages 16-17 years old the rate for workers above school leaving age but under the age of 18 is £3.68
The rate for apprentices under the age of 19 is at £2.65.
Working Hours and Rest Breaks
When in employment, employees have a number of employment rights relating to the hours worked and rest breaks. There is a working time limit for each week of working no more than 48 hours a week. This time limit can be opted out of so workers can choose to work more than 48 hours if they want.
The employment right of rest breaks can vary according to age. For anyone over the age of 18, employees should have a 20 minute break if they are working more than 6 hours. It should be noted for a rest break to count it cannot be taken off the end of the working day.
There are also employment rights on how many days can be worked a week. In a week a worker is entitled to a 24 hour break or 48 hours clear of each fortnight worked.
There are as always exceptions to these employment rights. These include people working for the armed forces or emergency services.
Paid Annual Leave
Another employment right is that employees are entitled to paid annual leave. Holiday is worked out on the amount of hours worked and should always be in the contract of employment. An example is when someone working a 5 days week will be entitled to 28 days paid holiday for that year. If holiday isn’t taken during employment, the amount owed will be paid at the end of employment.
Health and Safety
As always health and safety will come up in aspects of employment law and employment rights. Health and safety law means that employers owe a duty to keep their employees safe and to prevent injury or worse.