• Being offered a job? Start here...
  • Different kinds of employment
  • Employment agreements
  • Can I have someone help me when I talk to my employer?
• About to start or have just started a new job?
  • Obligations
  • Health and safety
  • Trial and probation periods
  • About unions
• Want to know about your entitlements?
  • Your basic rights as an employee
  • All Things Pay
  • Tax
  • Public holidays
  • Taking a holiday break (annual holidays)
  • Sick from work
  • Bereavement leave
  • Parental Leave
  • Tea and lunch breaks
• Got a problem at work?
  • Health and safety
  • Discrimination
  • Harassment
  • Bullying
• Quitting your job or just been fired?

Your basic rights as an employee

There are minimum rights and entitlements set out in law, which apply to ALL employees. 

The law protects you at work by

• setting the minimum rights you have as an employee with
  • paid time off work
  • the minimum you can get paid
  • public holidays
  • sick leave
  • bereavement leave
• stopping you doing work that could harm you.
• Making sure that all workers, including young people, are safe at work and not unlawfully discriminated against.

Your employer must:

• Pay you at least the minimum wage
• Provide you with annual leave
• Provide or compensate you for public holidays if you work, or normally work the day the public holiday falls on
• Provide you with a written employment agreement
• Not deduct money from your wages, without your agreement in writing
• Provide a safe workplace for you to work in
• Not discriminate against you.

One of the main principles of the law on employment is called “good faith”. This means that employers, employees and unions must deal with one another honestly and openly.