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Employment status (worker, employee, self-employed, director or contractor) affects employment rights and employer responsibilities in the workplace

• Overview

  In employment law a person’s employment status helps determine: their…

• Worker

  A person is generally classed as a ‘worker’ if: they have a contract or…

• Employee

  An employee is someone who works under an employment contract. A person…

• Employee shareholders

  An employee shareholder is someone who works under an employment contract…

• Self-employed and contractor

  A person is self-employed if they run their business for themselves and…

• Director

  Company directors run limited companies on behalf of shareholders.…

• Office holder

  A person who’s been appointed to a position by a company or organisation…

• Legal decisions on employment status

  A court or employment tribunal (known as an industrial tribunal in…

Who can set up employee ownership, employee shares and engagement, employee directors, model documentation

A contract is an agreement between employee and employer setting out implied and explicit terms and conditions - written statement of particulars, collective agreements

• Overview

  All employees have an employment contract with their employer. A contract…

• Contract terms

  The legal parts of a contract are known as ‘terms’. An employer should…

• Collective agreements

  An employer may have an agreement with employees’ representatives (from…

• Written statement of employment particulars

  An employer must give employees and workers a document stating the main…

• Problems with a written statement

  If an employee or worker has a problem receiving their written statement,…

Employers' responsibilities for different contract types: full-time, part-time, fixed term, agency workers, consultants, zero hours, family members, volunteers and young workers

Employee rights and employer legal obligations - the Information and Consultation of Employee regulations, setting up information and consultation agreements, complaints

Whistleblowing - what it is, who to tell, what to expect and how to complain if you're treated unfairly

How to dismiss staff fairly, working within dismissal rules and dealing with dismissals relating to whistleblowing

Get your business ready to employ staff - your responsibilities as an employer, register with HMRC, set up PAYE, get insurance

Employ someone: agree a contract, right to work checks, DBS checks, workplace pensions, set up PAYE, tell HMRC

Guidance you should consider when considering the employee shareholder employment status.

• Updated: 23 November 2016