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Offshore wind firms must sign up to a ‘Fair Work Charter’ to participate in government renewables auctions.

• Updated: 4 February 2026

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.

• Overview

  Workers over 18 are usually entitled to 3 types of break: rest breaks at…

• Taking breaks

  Employers can say when employees take rest breaks during work time as long…

• Compensatory rest

  Workers may be entitled to ‘compensatory rest’ if they do not have the…

• Exceptions

  Workers are not entitled to the 3 general types of rest break if they work…

• Young workers

  Young workers (above school leaving age and under 18) are usually entitled…

• Disputes

  Workers who cannot take or are not allowed rest breaks should speak to…

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…

Strikes and industrial action - rights and responsibilities for employers, when unions can take action and the effect on employees' pay and working records

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

The rights of agricultural and farm workers - including pay rates, agricultural minimum wage, overtime, holiday leave, rest breaks, help and advice

Holiday entitlement or annual leave - information for employers and workers on entitlement, calculating leave, taking leave, accruing leave and disputes

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

The rules for employment agencies and businesses: licences, vulnerable people, opting out, job advertisements, transfer fees, trade unions, terms and conditions and contracts, travel and accommodation for work-seekers

Employees can raise a grievance at work when an informal solution is not possible - grievance procedure, mediation, meetings, appeals