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This can vary greatly between companies and dependant upon your contract of employment. ACAS provides a guideline of what you can expect with regards to sick pay, holiday pay, maternity pay etc.

Web link ACAS Guidelines on Pay

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The basic rights and protections that the Working Time Regulations (1998) provide are:

A limit of an average of 48 hours a week which a worker can be required to work (though workers can choose to work more if they want to).
A limit of an average of 8 hours work in 24 which nightworkers can be required to work.
A right for night workers to receive free health assessments.
A right to 11 hours rest a day.
A right to a day off each week.
A right to an in-work rest break if the working day is longer than 6 hours.
A right to 4 weeks paid leave per year.

To understand more please visit The Department of Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform website.

Web link The Department of Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform website.

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You now have the right to take time off to handle an emergency involving someone who depends on you. This can include your wife going into labour, or the death of a dependant where you need to arrange and attend the funeral. The legal right only covers emergencies (not if you knew beforehand that you were going to have to take time off). Whether you are paid during this period of absence is dependant upon your contract of employment, your employer is not required by law to pay you.

Web link Compassionate Leave

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Legislation on the entitlement of maternity, paternity and adoption leave have only recently been changed, it is important to be aware of any changes. The Department of Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform summarises current entitlements and is a useful source of up to date information.

Web link Department of Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform summarises

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With today's changing working environment where customers request services or products on a 24 hour basis a lot of companies are looking at the option of flexi-time. For you as an employee, flexi-time can be a good option to maintain that work-life balance in particular this may suit if you are a mother / father, are doing independant study or if you are a carer. Often a trial period would be good way to enter this alternative working practice.

File download Flexible Working and Work Life Balance ACAS.pdf

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If you are expected to regularly work overtime, your employer will state this in your contract, although regulations say employees can't be made to work over 48 hours a week, they can agree to work longer.. Overtime rates are for you and your employer to agree, there are no statutory minimum requirements. The direct.gov website gives more information into your rights and what you can expect if an overtime is an option you / your employer are considering.

Web link Direct.gov website

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Be aware of your company's procedures when you are absent from work, for example if you are absent due to a long term sickness you will need to provide doctors certification that you are unwell and often giving an approximate recovery period. If your absence is unjustified or you are absent without leave it is likely that you will face a disciplinary action. The CIPD website goes into a lot more depth (mainly focussed on the employer) but is useful for employees to be aware of.

Web link CIPD website

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There are 8 permanent bank and public holidays in Great Britain. Under the Working Time Regulations 1998, as of the 1st April 2009 staff are entitled to 5.6 weeks paid holiday (if you work full time) each year.

To stay up to date with any changes to holiday entitlement the Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform website can help.

Web link Department for Business EnterpriseDepartment for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform website and Regulatory Reform website

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