Work Rights

Workers in the UK are seen as an important force in the business world. For this reason they are protected by British law. A person is generally classified as a ‘worker’ if:

• they have a contract or other arrangement to do work or services personally for a reward (your contract doesn’t have to be written); 
• their reward is for money or a benefit in kind, for example the promise of a contract or future work; 
• they only have a limited right to send someone else to do the work (subcontract); 
• they have to turn up for work even if they don’t want to; 
• their employer has to have work for them to do as long as the contract or arrangement lasts; 
• they aren’t doing the work as part of their own limited company in an arrangement where the ‘employer’ is actually a customer or client. 

Employment rights

Workers are entitled to certain employment rights, including: 

• getting the National Minimum Wage 
• protection against unlawful deductions from wages 
• the statutory minimum level of paid holiday 
• the statutory minimum length of rest breaks 
• to not work more than 48 hours on average per week or to opt out of this right if they choose 
• protection against unlawful discrimination 
• protection for ‘whistleblowing’ - reporting wrongdoing in the workplace 
• to not be treated less favourably if they work part-time 

They may also be entitled to: 

• Statutory Sick Pay 
• Statutory Maternity Pay 
• Statutory Paternity Pay 
• Statutory Adoption Pay 
• Shared Parental Pay 

Agency workers have specific rights from the first day at work. 

Workers usually aren’t entitled to: 

• minimum notice periods if their employment will be ending, for example if an employer is dismissing them 
• protection against unfair dismissal 
• the right to request flexible working 
• time off for emergencies 
• Statutory Redundancy Pay 

Casual or irregular work 

Someone is likely to be a worker if most of these apply: 

• they occasionally do work for a specific business 
• the business doesn’t have to offer them work and they don’t have to accept it - they only work when they want to 
• their contract with the business uses terms like ‘casual’, ‘freelance’, ‘zero hours’, ‘as required’ or something similar 
• they had to agree with the business’s terms and conditions to get work - either verbally or in writing 
• they are under the supervision or control of a manager or director  they can’t send someone else to do their work 
• the business deducts tax and National Insurance contributions from their wages 
• the business provides materials, tools or equipment they need to do the work 

Does anything change for foreign workers working in the UK after the entry of Brexit?

The British authorities have confirmed that there will be no “expulsions, so their position remains unchanged. In any case, a special online platform, Settlement Scheme, has been set up, to which foreign workers are required to register to maintain the right to acquire a residence permit. The speech is more difficult for those who want to move to Great Britain for work. While English law does not provide for limits on who earns at least € 30,000 a year, entry is likely to become more complicated for unskilled workers. 

Source: https://www.quifinanza.it/info-utili/video/brexit-cosa-cambia-persone-lavoro-commercio/348038/amp/