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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…

Check someone's immigration status, and that they can access services like the NHS and benefits in the UK

Help someone make decisions if they appoint you or if they lack mental capacity - includes using a power of attorney, becoming a deputy and getting a one-off Court of Protection ruling

• When you can make decisions for someone

  Someone can choose you to make and carry out certain decisions on their…

• How to make decisions

  As someone’s attorney or deputy you must: give them all the help they need…

• Checking mental capacity

  A person may not have mental capacity because of a problem with the way…

Visiting a prisoner: visiting times, keeping in touch by email, telephone or letter, banned items and sending money to a prisoner by debit card or online bank transfer

Find out how you can hire a person or business to deal with customs for you.

• Updated: 6 February 2025

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

Support and benefits you can get if you're looking after someone else's child, court orders - kinship care, private fostering, friends and family care

Nominate someone for an honour or bravery award (called a gallantry award), read the New Year honours list - BEMs, MBEs, OBEs, knighthoods, outstanding achievements and contributions to public life.

How to tell Companies House you have verified someone's identity.

• Updated: 8 April 2025

The employment status of au pairs, nannies, carers, personal assistants and other people who work in your home - how to tell if they're an employee or not, what happens with the National Minimum Wage, tax and National Insurance, what...