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Pay

Employers must ensure that their workers are paid in the form of a wage or a salary.

A wage is an hourly rate of pay that is calculated and paid each week, or monthly.

A salary is a yearly rate of pay which is divided equally over twelve months.

Employers must ensure their employees pay income tax, make National Insurance payments and, in certain circumstances, are a member of a pension scheme.

Career development

Employers are responsible for ensuring that their employees are fully trained in the use of all the equipment in the workplace.

Every employee must receive health and safety training, to make sure that accidents and injuries are kept to a minimum.

Other career development opportunities must be negotiated between the employer and employee.

Compassionate leave

Employees are entitled to unpaid compassionate leave, should an emergency arise with a dependent. Dependents include:

• Children
• husbands and wives;
• partners and fiancés;
• parents;
• elderly relatives.

This includes being able to attend a funeral. Some employers will pay staff who are absent on compassionate leave.

Holidays

Employers have a responsibility to give their employees annual leave for holidays. They must put this in the employment contract. These holidays are in addition to annual bank holidays in the UK and Ireland.

Health and safety

Employers have a responsibility to ensure the health and safety of everyone in their workplace including staff, customers, and members of the public.

They must provide health and safety training to each of their workers. Health and safety signs must be clearly visible throughout the workplace.

Equality

Employers have a responsibility to ensure that their employees are treated fairly. They cannot discriminate against anyone based on their:

• gender
• race;
• religion;
• sexual orientation;
• age;
• disability.