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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…

The rules on working hours - hour and limits, rests, health assessments and terms and conditions

• Hours and limits

  Staff who regularly work at least 3 hours during the ‘night period’ are…

• Exceptions to night work limits

  The limits on night working hours do not usually apply: in the armed…

• Health assessments

  Employers must offer workers a free health assessment before they become a…

Minimum wage rates for different types of paid employment - time work, output work, unmeasured work, salaried hours work.

• Overview

  The National Minimum Wage is worked out at an hourly rate, but it applies…

• Paid by the hour

  Workers paid according to the number of hours they are at work are classed…

• Paid an annual salary

  Most people paid an annual salary are classed as doing ‘salaried hours…

• Paid per task or piece of work done

  Workers paid per task they perform or piece of work they do (known as…

• Paid in other ways (unmeasured work)

  If the work is not covered by any of the other types of work, it’s…

Working time directive and maximum weekly working hours including how to calculate your weekly working hours and working time limits if you're a young worker.

Overtime law - what is overtime, overtime pay, employee rights, part-time workers and time off in lieu

Check what type of drivers' hours rules you need to follow if you drive a goods vehicle or a bus or coach.

Your pay - your payslip, performance-related pay, deductions and how to work out your weekly pay

Workers' rights to rest breaks at work - length of breaks, how your age affects rest breaks, exceptions to the rules for shift workers, young people, and drivers.

How bus, coach and HGV drivers should record the hours they spend on 'other work'.

• Updated: 2 September 2022

Apply for Carer's Allowance - money to help you look after someone who needs to be cared for. Apply online or use form DS700.