When it comes to employment rights, there is a common misconception that employees must work for a certain number of years before they are entitled to certain benefits or protections However, under UK employment law, workers actually have a number of important rights from their very first day of employment These rights are particularly pertinent for those who are employed for less than two years, as they may not be aware of all the rights that they are entitled to In this article, we will explore the key rights that employees have under two years of employment, helping them to understand and protect their rights in the workplace.
One of the most important rights that employees have under two years of employment is protection from discrimination Discrimination can take many forms, including being treated unfairly because of your age, race, gender, sexual orientation, disability, religion, or any other protected characteristic It is illegal for employers to discriminate against employees on any of these grounds, and employees have the right to file a discrimination claim even if they have only been employed for a short period of time This means that employees who have experienced discrimination in the workplace should not hesitate to seek advice and take action to protect their rights.
Another key right that employees have under two years of employment is protection from unfair dismissal While the general rule is that employees must have two years of continuous service to claim unfair dismissal, there are some exceptions to this rule For example, if an employee is dismissed because they have asserted a statutory right, such as requesting flexible working or taking maternity leave, they may be able to claim unfair dismissal regardless of their length of service Employees who believe that they have been unfairly dismissed should seek legal advice to understand their rights and options for challenging their dismissal.
Employees under two years of employment also have the right to receive the National Minimum Wage and annual leave The National Minimum Wage is a statutory minimum wage that all workers are entitled to, regardless of their length of service The amount of the National Minimum Wage depends on the employee’s age and whether they are an apprentice under two years employment rights. Additionally, all employees are entitled to a minimum amount of paid annual leave, which is currently set at 28 days per year for full-time workers This includes bank holidays, and employees have the right to take this leave and be paid for it, in accordance with their employment contract.
Finally, employees under two years of employment have the right to protection from unlawful deductions from their wages This means that employers cannot make deductions from an employee’s wages without their consent, except in limited circumstances such as to recover an overpayment or a loan Employees have the right to challenge any unlawful deductions from their wages, and employers who make such deductions may be liable to pay compensation to the employee It is important for employees to keep accurate records of their wages and any deductions that are made, so that they can challenge any unlawful deductions and protect their rights in the workplace.
In conclusion, employees under two years of employment have a number of important rights that they should be aware of and protect These rights include protection from discrimination, unfair dismissal, receiving the National Minimum Wage and annual leave, and protection from unlawful deductions from their wages By understanding and asserting these rights, employees can ensure that they are treated fairly and in accordance with the law in the workplace If employees are unsure about their rights or believe that their rights have been violated, they should seek legal advice to understand their options for redress Remember, all workers have rights, regardless of how long they have been employed, and it is important to protect and assert these rights to ensure a fair and equitable working environment for all