What am i entitled to as an employee?

Wanting to understand and know exactly what you are entitled to in any given situation is part of human nature, and it is exactly the same with most employees in the workplace.

Having that particular knowledge in any scenario can empower a worker, help them to assert their rights and, perhaps most importantly, to make well-informed decisions.

For an employee having knowledge, or at least a degree of knowledge, of their entitlements in any working environment will always be hugely beneficial.

As an employee  in the UK you are entitled to a wide range of rights and benefits at work intended to ensure you are treated fairly and protected from harm.

Here we take a look at some key employee entitlements.

Employment contracts

As an employee you should be given a written statement that outlines the key terms and conditions of your employment within the first two months of starting your role [1] cited 10.4.25

The document should include information such as  job title, start date, pay, hours of work, holiday entitlement and notice period.

It is important to point out that the written statement is not a contract of employment, which is more extensive and covers more than what is in the written statement.

Employees have been known to worry because they do not have a written employment contract. A contract can be verbal and established through a job offer, acceptance, consideration and both parties must intend for it to be legally binding.

It is always best, however, to have your contract in writing. There is always a possibility a workplace dispute could arise. In such cases it can provide vital clarity in relation to agreed terms, which can make it easier to settle any contentious matters.

Pay and benefits

Depending on who you speak to, some employees will tell you the pay was the sole factor in them taking a job, while others will tell you it was a significant factor in their decision. In a highly competitive job market, pay and attractive benefits will always entice top talent.

Your pay will usually be based on a combination of your experience, performance, market rates, skills, and organisational performance. Employers typically have salary ranges that are based on such factors.

The current rates for the National Living Wage (for those aged 21 and over) and the National Minimum Wage (for those of at least school leaving age), which change on 1 April every year, are:

21 and over - £12.21 per hour.

18 to 20 - £10,00 per hour.

Under 18 – £7.55 per hour.

Apprentice - £7.55 per hour.

[2] cited 10.4.25

Employees are entitled to equal pay for equal work, irrespective of gender. In accordance with Equality Act 2010, men and women must get equal pay for doing 'equal work'. [3]  cited 10.4.25

Working hours and breaks

The demands of the modern workplace and use of technology does mean many employees are working outside of their contracted working hours, and without taking suitable breaks.

The Working Time Regulations 1998 is the law that applies the EU Working Time Directive to England, Scotland and Wales, and it sets rules, which include:

• The maximum weekly working hours, and how someone can work more hours if they choose.
• Rest during the working day, week and year.
• Young workers' maximum working hours and rest breaks
• Night work
• Special arrangements when there is an emergency or if someone is not able to take their rest. [4] cited 10.4.25

The legislation covers employees, workers, agency workers, apprentices, casual and seasonal workers, doctors in training and zero-hours workers

The law means that you should not be made, or forced to work more than 48 hours per week. However, you can choose to do so, and it must be your choice, if you opt out. If you opt out there is no maximum to the number of hours you can work.

If you work for over six hours a day you are entitled to a minimum 20-minute rest break. You are also allowed 11 consecutive hours of rest in any 24-hour period and 24 consecutive hours off in any seven-day period.

Holiday entitlements

You may love your job and be fully committed to it, but you still need to take time off. Annual leave is essential as it gives you valuable time to rest and recharge. It can help you to maintain a healthy work-life balance, prevent burnout and reduce stress, ensuring you perform at your best in work.

ACAS provide detailed guidance on the amount of annual leave you are entitled to: [5] cited 10.4.25

Workers have the right to ‘statutory annual leave’ (paid holiday) whether they work full-time, part-time or under a zero-hours contract. The number of days’ holiday will depend on how many days or hours you work and any extra agreements you may have with your employer. You ‘accrue’ (build up) holiday from the day you start working.

If you are a full-time employee you are entitled to a minimum of 28 days of paid annual leave per year, which can include bank holidays. If you work part-time you are still entitled to 28 days statutory paid holiday. The entitlement will be in proportion to the hours you work.

When you take annual leave your pay during that period must be at your normal rate. It should mean you can relax, rest and recuperate without fear of suffering any financial loss.

Sick leave and pay

Few, if any of us, are likely to match US postal worker Deborah Ford who is reported to have worked for 44 years without taking a single day off sick. [6] cited 10.4.25

If you are an employee and unwell for four days or more and earn at least £125 per week, you are entitled to Statutory Sick Pay (SSP).  The SSP rate has just increased to £118.75 per week (starting 6 April 2025).

Many employers have a contractual sick pay scheme, which will pay more than SSP. Check your contract to understand what rate of sick pay you will receive if you are unable to work due to illness.

Maternity, paternity, and parental leave

You are entitled to parental rights at work:

Pregnant employees are entitled to 52 weeks of maternity leave, made up of 26 weeks of ordinary maternity leave and 26 weeks of additional maternity leave.

Fathers or partners can take up to  two weeks of paternity leave.

New parents can share up to 50 weeks of leave and 37 weeks of pay following the birth or adoption of a child. It provides more flexibility in how parents opt to take time off to care for a child. [7] cited 10.4.25

Employees who have been with their employer for at least a year are entitled to 18 weeks of unpaid parental leave for each child under 18.

Protection from unfair treatment

There can be some situations with your employer that make you feel incredibly vulnerable, but you do have rights and you are entitled to be treated fairly at work.

If you have two years’ service with your employer you are protected from unfair dismissal and entitled to a redundancy payment if you are made redundant.

You do have some protection from day one in a role e.g. from all forms of discrimination, unfavourable treatment for raising whistleblowing concerns and you can raise a formal grievance if you are unhappy about any work-related treatment.

Health and Safety

Your employer must ensure the working environment is safe by carrying out risk assessments, providing training and ensuring necessary safety measures are put in place to prevent accidents and injuries.

The requirement to protect you from harm at work also compels an employer to take suitable steps to prevent all forms of harassment and bullying.

Finally

As an employee your entitlements are wide-ranging and designed to make sure that you are treated fairly and kept safe at work.

It is essential that you understand your rights because it is vital knowledge that will put you in the best possible position to navigate and deal with the complexities of the modern workplace.

An employer must meet its legal requirements to ensure the working environment is a positive one and productive.