🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Employment & Labor
Hiring rules, employment contracts, payroll, social insurance, and EOR options.
Quick answer
UK employment gives workers and employees statutory rights — the National Minimum/Living Wage, 5.6 weeks' paid holiday, and protection from unfair dismissal after two years — enforced via employment tribunals, with Acas providing guidance. You should get a written statement of terms from day one.
Employment rights are set by statute (including the Employment Rights Act) and the National Minimum/Living Wage; GOV.UK and ACAS provide official guidance.
- Employees must receive a written statement of employment particulars.
- The National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage set statutory pay floors.
- Employers must enrol eligible staff in a workplace pension (auto-enrolment).
Step-by-step
- 1
Get your written statement of terms
Employees and workers must receive a written statement of the main employment terms on or before day one.
- 2
Know your pay and hours rights
You must be paid at least the National Minimum Wage / National Living Wage; the Working Time Regulations cap the average week at 48 hours (which you can opt out of) and set rest breaks.
- 3
Understand leave entitlements
You are entitled to 5.6 weeks' paid holiday a year, plus statutory sick pay and family leave (maternity, paternity, shared parental).
- 4
Sort tax, NI and pension
You are taxed through PAYE, pay National Insurance, and are usually auto-enrolled into a workplace pension.
- 5
Know the dismissal and notice rules
You are protected from unfair dismissal (generally after two years' service) and discrimination from day one; statutory minimum notice applies.
- 6
Resolve disputes via Acas and tribunals
Raise issues internally, then through Acas early conciliation and, if needed, an employment tribunal.
Checklist
- Written statement of terms (day one)
- National Minimum/Living Wage met
- Working-time (48h cap / opt-out) + rest breaks
- 5.6 weeks paid holiday + statutory sick/family pay
- PAYE + National Insurance + pension auto-enrolment
- Unfair-dismissal (2 years) + notice rules
- Discrimination protection (day one)
- Dispute route (Acas / employment tribunal)
Official authorities
- GOV.UK — Employing people
Official guidance on employing staff.
- ACAS
Advisory body on workplace rights and disputes.
Frequently asked questions
How much paid holiday am I entitled to?
Most workers get 5.6 weeks (28 days for a five-day week) of paid annual leave, which can include public holidays.
When am I protected from unfair dismissal?
Generally after two years' continuous service, though some dismissals (e.g. discrimination, whistleblowing) are protected from day one.
What is Acas?
The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service gives free employment guidance and runs early conciliation before tribunal claims.
Official-information aggregation, not legal advice. Always verify on the authority's own site.
Government portals
- UK Government (GOV.UK) — UK's unified government services portal — visas, taxes, driving licences, benefits and more
- UK Visas and Immigration — UK visa applications, Biometric Residence Permits (BRP), and work authorization
- HM Revenue & Customs — Self Assessment tax returns, National Insurance, VAT registration and payment