Know Your Rights UK
Donate
Employment Rights

Employment Rights, Know Where You Stand

Being dismissed, made redundant, or treated unfairly at work is stressful, but UK employment law gives workers strong protections. Most employment disputes can be resolved without going to tribunal if you understand your rights early and act within the time limits.

Time limit warning: Employment Tribunal claims must usually be submitted within 3 months less one day from the date of dismissal or the act you're complaining about. Where that date falls on or after 1 October 2026, the Employment Rights Act 2025 extends most time limits to 6 months. You must also notify ACAS before you can claim. Don't delay.
⚠️
Unfair Dismissal
When dismissal is unlawful, the qualifying period, fair and unfair reasons, and how to claim.
🚪
Constructive Dismissal
When your employer's conduct forces you to resign, and how to claim it as unfair dismissal.
📋
Redundancy
Your rights in redundancy, pay, consultation, notice, maternity leave, and how to challenge unfair selection.
👶
Maternity Leave
52 weeks' entitlement, Statutory Maternity Pay rates, Keeping in Touch days, and returning to work.
🧮
Maternity Pay Calculator
How Statutory Maternity Pay and Maternity Allowance are worked out for 2026/27, with worked examples.
⚖️
Discrimination at Work
Protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010, direct and indirect discrimination, and what to do.
📝
Disciplinary Procedure
Your rights at a disciplinary hearing, written notice, the right to a companion, and challenging the decision.
🏠
Flexible Working
From day one: the right to request flexible working, how to make the request, and challenging a refusal.
📣
Whistleblowing
Protected disclosures, what qualifies, who is covered, and what to do if you face retaliation.
🏥
Sick Pay
Statutory Sick Pay (SSP), how long it lasts, what happens when it ends, and your rights when ill.
🌴
Holiday Pay
Minimum annual leave entitlements, how holiday pay is calculated, and claiming what you're owed.
💷
Is Redundancy Pay Taxable?
The £30,000 tax-free threshold, what counts, and how PILON and notice pay are taxed.
🌿
Garden Leave
Pay during garden leave, whether you can start a new job, and how it differs from PILON.
📅
Notice Periods
Statutory minimums, contractual notice, PILON, and what to do if your employer fails to give proper notice.
🤝
Settlement Agreements
What a settlement agreement includes, whether to sign, tax treatment, and how to negotiate.
🏛️
Employment Tribunal
How the Employment Tribunal works, strict time limits, ACAS Early Conciliation, and what to expect.
📅
Zero Hours Contracts
Your rights on a zero hours contract, holiday, sick pay, exclusivity clauses, and minimum wage.
💷
Minimum Wage
National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage rates by age for 2026, the apprentice rate, and what to do if you're underpaid.
🧰
Access to Work
The grant for equipment, support workers and travel if a health condition or disability affects your job: who qualifies, the cap, how to apply and claim.
🩺
Fit Notes (Sick Notes)
When you need a fit note, who can issue one, what it costs, how long it lasts, and the SC2 self-certification form.
⚖️
Equal Pay
The right to equal pay for equal work, comparators, material factor defence, and how to claim.
📄
Employment References
What employers can say, what makes a reference unlawful, and what to do if a bad reference costs you a job.
🛡️
Protected Characteristics
The nine characteristics protected by the Equality Act 2010, and what counts as unlawful treatment.
👨‍👩‍👧
Parental Leave
Unpaid parental leave, paternity leave and pay, and shared parental leave explained.

All guides in this section

30 guides. Every one shows at the top when it was last checked and against which official sources.