Guide Sections
1. Starting Work & Contracts
To begin working legally in the UK, having a formal written contract is key. This guarantees your statutory employment rights are fully protected under UK law.
Employee vs Self-Employed
An employee possesses significantly more statutory rights (holiday pay, SSP, redundancy, pension) than a self-employed person. Be cautious: certain rogue employers try to treat workers as self-employed to avoid giving holidays and sick leave, which is illegal.
Statutory Working Hours Limits
By law, adult workers cannot be forced to work more than an average of 48 hours per week unless they explicitly sign a voluntary opt-out agreement. Key rules:
- At least 1 full day off in any given week
- Minimum 20-minute rest break for shifts over 6 hours
- Night workers cannot average more than 8 hours per night shift