1. Economic Well Being Tutorial: Employment rights. Aims and Objectives To become familiar with employment terms To understand your legal rights as an employee

2. Economic Well Being Tutorial: Employment rights.

3. Essentials of Starting Employment National Insurance: You receive a 9 digit national insurance number that you must provide your employer with. You pay National Insurance contributions to build up your entitlement to a State Pension You can earn up to £139 a week (2011-12) before you pay any National Insurance contributions PAYE (Pay as You Earn) is an amount of your earnings taken by your employer to pay as tax to the government on your behalf. The amount should be itemised in a pay slip This tax year (2011-12) tax free amount is up to £7,475 a year before paying Tax. The amount of tax you pay depends on the amount you earn. That’s why it is important to check with the Inland Revenue that you are on the right Tax Code.

4. P45&National Insurance Card

5. Part Time/Fulltime Employment Part Time employment usually means you work less than 35 hours a week Though there are no set hours. Full time employees generally work more than 35 hours a week Average salary for UK Fulltime (adult) employees in 2009 was £22,000/£15000 part time

6. Who needs qualifications? In general, those with a level 4 qualification or level 3 will have a 40-50% greater chance of finding and sustaining employment (on average a graduate will earn twice as much as those with no or very low qualifications)

7. Employment rights: Contracts Contracts of employment are agreed as soon as you accept the job. Contracts do not have to be written, though it is helpful to resolve any disputes later on. You are entitled to a written contract within 2 months. Can you think of the benefits of a written contract?

8. 15-17 employment and the law No more than 8 hours a day and 40 hours per week. You are entitled to a 30 minute break after 4.5 hours of work. You are entitled to the national minimum wage (£3.64 per hour) You are entitled to an amount of paid annual leave which is calculated pro rata. You have the right to an itemised pay slip. Generally no work between 10pm and 6am. For further information – www.direct.gov.uk/en/youngpeople/workandcareers/yourrightsandresponsibilitiesa twork/DG_066272 www.direct.gov.uk/en/youngpeople/workandcareers/yourrightsandresponsibilitiesa twork/DG_066272

9. Employment Law: 18+ You can work up to 48 hours per week. You are entitled to a 20 minute break for every 6 hours worked. There is a minimum wage ( development rate) of £4.92 per hour for workers aged 18-21 inclusive Minimum wage progresses to £5.93 per hour for workers aged 22 years and older over 18 you will have the right to a 20 minute continuous break if you work more than six hours a day.

10. Dismissal and Redundancy Redundancy is a form of dismissal from your job, caused by your employer needing to reduce the workforce. If you choose to resign; one week’s notice if you have been continuously employed for between one month and two years unless your contract demands otherwise. Think carefully before resigning. Is there a grievance policy that can help resolve a problem?- Remember your employer does not have to give a reference. (They cannot give a bad one!!) If your employer has dismissed you, they must show they have a valid reason that they can prove.

11. Case Study Look at the following case studies. What is wrong with their terms of employment? How might they challenge them with their employer? What would be the consequences?

12. Spot the problem… 1) Stacey Works full time for a local super market. She was offered a job in a fashion boutique and told the Manager that she could start asap. Immediately she told her employer that she had a new job and would not be in the next day. 2) Jade works full time in an office. She is always on time and gets on well with her colleagues. One day she is 30 minutes late and misses an important staff meeting. Her Manager explains that the meeting was very important and they needed her the there to liaise with clients. He informs Jade that he will have to terminate her employment.

13. Maternity rights Expectant mothers are entitled 52 weeks maternity leave. You must give your employer 15 weeks notice of when you wish to go on maternity leave or they may refuse to pay SMP You have the right to return to your job on the same terms unless your employer can prove that this is not possible (e.g. if the role no longer exists) If you have worked for your employer longer than 26 weeks and earn over £110 per week you may be entitled to up to 39 weeks statutory maternity pay (SMP).

14. Sick Pay You may be entitled to Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) if the following apply: you're sick for at least four days in a row and you're earning at least £97 a week If this should happen, tell your employer and provide evidence from a doctor if required. Your employer will work out a daily rate of SSP if necessary by dividing the weekly rate by the number of days you’d normally work in that week Some employers will offer a company sick pay scheme in your contract of employment. If this is equal to or greater than SSP, you will just receive the company scheme. http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/index.htm

15. Useful contacts Inland Revenue –Tax queries http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/working/intro/employed.htm Direct Gov.- general info on entitlements http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/index.htm Citizens Advice Bureau : Space, 38 church Road, Welwyn Garden City, Herts. AL8 6PW Wednesday/ ADVICE LINE: 01707 262607 (Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 9.45am - 12.00noon and 1pm - 3.30pm Job centre Plus Blackhorse House, Salisbury Square, Hatfield, Hertfordshire AL9 5AF Telephone: 01707 344000