Contracts & status
Told you are self-employed but treated like staff? Check your status
Invoices do not cancel your rights. Check who controls the work, save the evidence and find out what the firm owes you.
Know where you stand at work.
Your pay. Your time. Your rights.
Free, plain-English guides to UK employment law, with the sources to back them up.
Statutory employer notice
How much notice am I owed?
7 full years: 7 weeks of statutory employer notice.
| Continuous service | Minimum |
|---|---|
| 1 month to under 2 years | 1 week |
| 2 to 12 full years | 1 week per year |
| 12 years or more | 12 weeks |
For employees with at least a year’s service. Your contract may give more. Gross misconduct can remove the right to notice. Check the notice rules.
What is happening at work?
- I have been dismissed2 yearsOrdinary unfair dismissal service in Great Britain now; exceptions apply.
- I am at risk of redundancy£751Weekly pay cap for statutory redundancy in Great Britain.
- My pay looks wrong£12.71Minimum hourly pay, age 21+, from April 2026.
- I am off sick£123.25Weekly SSP ceiling, or 80% of earnings if lower.
- I am pregnant or a new parentCheck leave and pay separately.
- I am being treated unfairlyKeep the evidence. Check the deadline.
- They want to change my contractCheck what you have agreed.
- I am handing in my notice1 weekStatutory resignation notice after a month. Your contract may require more.
Put a number on it.
All calculators & tools- Notice periodHow much notice you owe or are owed, and the date employment ends.
- Holiday entitlementDays of paid leave for any pattern: part-year, part-time or irregular hours.
- Statutory Sick PayWhat you should be paid from your first sick day, and for how long.
- Redundancy payThe tax-free lump sum the law guarantees, year by year.
- Tribunal deadlineYour filing date, including the Acas early conciliation adjustment.
- Named-employer searchSearch the government record by employer, location or sector.
- Rates & limitsMinimum wage, sick pay and award limits, with their dates and sources.
The law is changing.
Keep the dates straight.
Open the reform tracker-
In forceTribunal claim limits change
Many three-month limits became six months where the relevant date is on or after today. Earlier events do not acquire extra time.
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Next upHarassment, trade union rights and seafarer framework scheduled
Commencement No. 6, made on 1 October, legally fixes this start for stronger harassment prevention and third-party protections, union access, remaining recognition and derecognition reforms, and time-off rights for union officials, learning representatives and qualifying equality representatives. Section 56 and Schedule 5's seafarer-protection framework also commence, but operational declaration requirements need further regulations. These changes are not yet in force.
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ScheduledUnfair dismissal reforms scheduled
The qualifying period falls to six months and the ordinary compensatory-award cap disappears for dismissals with an effective termination date from this day. Fire-and-rehire protections and the union-rights statement duty are also in the government's January timetable.
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Date to be setBereavement leave scheduled
The government plans a day-one right for employees in Great Britain to take up to two weeks of unpaid leave for specified family bereavements and pregnancy loss before 24 weeks. Secondary legislation is still needed; this right is not yet in force.
Dates and status from our reform tracker. Scheduled does not mean in force.
A closer look at your rights.
- · Pay & benefitsTips and service charges: who keeps the money?16 min read
- · Compliance & enforcement20 things your employer can’t legally do (UK, 2026)18 min read
- · Pay & benefitsPaid below minimum wage? How to check and what to do22 min read
- · Health & safetyShift work and fatigue: health and safety15 min read
The full picture, by topic.
All guides- Pay & benefits29guidesMinimum wage, sick pay, overtime, pensions and getting paid correctly.
- Hours & leave34guidesWorking time, breaks, holiday, family leave and flexible working.
- Contracts & status24guidesEmployee, worker or self-employed; contracts, zero hours and agency work.
- Discrimination & equality30guidesProtected characteristics, harassment, equal pay and reasonable adjustments.
- Health & safety45guidesRisk, injury, stress, hazards and what employers must do about them.
- Discipline & termination41guidesDisciplinaries, dismissal, redundancy, notice and settlement agreements.
- Unions & employee voice25guidesJoining a union, recognition, collective bargaining and whistleblowing.
- Compliance & enforcement22guidesTribunals, Acas, enforcement bodies and what happens when rules are broken.
- Specific work situations6guidesRemote work, gig work, apprentices, and rules that depend on your job.
A guide you can check.
Dated guidance. Primary sources. A clear line between the law now and what comes next.
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