Your Rights at Work
Whether you're in your first job or switching careers, knowing your employment rights is essential. This fact sheet covers pay, contracts, breaks, and what to do if something goes wrong.
What this fact sheet covers
- Minimum wage and payslip rights
- Written contracts and terms of employment
- Rest breaks and holiday entitlement
- Sick pay — what you're entitled to
- When to raise a grievance
Your pay
You are legally entitled to at least the National Minimum Wage or National Living Wage depending on your age. Your employer must give you a payslip on or before each payday showing your gross pay, any deductions, and your net pay.
Your contract
From day one, you’re entitled to a written statement of your employment terms. This should include your pay, hours, holiday entitlement, sick pay, and notice period.
Holiday
Full-time workers are entitled to 28 days of paid holiday per year (including bank holidays). Part-time workers get a pro-rata amount. You start accruing holiday from your very first day.
More Resources
See all resourcesStarting a New Job: A Practical Checklist
Everything you need to do before and after your first day — from sorting your tax code to understanding your payslip and probation period.
Know Your Tenancy Rights
Your landlord has legal duties and you have legal protections. This fact sheet explains what they can and cannot do — and what to do if they break the rules.
What Benefits Can I Claim?
A quick-reference fact sheet covering the main benefits available to young people and working-age adults — including Universal Credit, Council Tax Reduction, and more.