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Employment rights

Many LJMU students have a part time job, so it’s important you’re all clued up on your rights whilst at work, and what to do if you feel your rights have been breached. JMSU have teamed up with LJMU Careers to get you in the know! 

  1. Minimum Wage: 

The National Minimum Wage goes up every year but varies by age.  

From April 2022 – March 2023, minimum wage is as follows: 

18-20 Year Old Rate 

£6.83 

21-22 Year Old Rate 

£9.18 

National Living Wage 

£9.50 

  1. Breaks 

  • There are three broad types of breaks that you need to know about: 

Rest breaks – Once you work a shift of more than six hours, then you should have at least one uninterrupted rest break of 20 minutes during the day. This may not be paid. So that's pretty much your lunch break, a chance to pop to the shops or just enough time to grab a cup of tea. 

Daily rest – There should always be at least 11 hours between each of your shifts. In other words, if you finish a shift at 9pm, you shouldn't be on the rota again until 8am the next day. 

Weekly rest – You also have the right to either an uninterrupted 24 hours without work each week, or 48 hours every fortnight. This could be at any point during the week. 

  1. Holiday (annual leave) 

  • All workers are legally entitled to a certain amount of paid holiday per year (unless you're self-employed. For those working full-time, you must get at least 5.6 weeks of paid holiday per year. This includes agency workers (once they have completed 12 weeks service). For part-time workers, workers with irregular hours and workers on zero-hours contracts you're entitled to at least 5.6 weeks’ paid holiday, but this will be on a ‘pro rata’ basis depending on the hours you work. For example, if you work 3 days a week, you must get at least 16.8 days’ holiday per year (3 x 5.6).  

  • Statutory paid holiday entitlement is limited to 28 days (5.6 weeks), even if you work a 6-day week. But an employer can choose to offer more leave than the legal minimum.  

  • Bank holidays do not have to be given as paid leave. An employer can choose to include these as part of a workers’ annual leave. 

  • Precisely when you take your leave is pretty much down to you and your employer.  Your employer may not authorise a request for annual leave where business needs cannot be accommodated however, they should not be unreasonable - It's all about coming to an agreement that suits you both. 

  • Similarly, employers can stipulate that you have to take holiday at certain times of the year if business is particularly quiet. 

  • In short, your employer must give you the option of taking a set number of days off each year – but there are no hard and fast rules regarding when and how many days off you can have in a row. 

  1. Your contract 

  • By day one, you should be given a statement of the terms and conditions of your employment. This statement must be written and as a minimum should include information such as: 

  • Job title 

  • Rate of Pay 

  • Notice Period 

  • Hours of work 

  • Holiday entitlement 

  1. If your employer wants you to increase or decrease your hours, remember they cannot just impose the change. Making changes to an employee’s contract will, in most cases, require you to obtain the employee’s consent. Failure to do this will normally result in a breach of contract. 

Keeping you after your agreed shift 

  1. Your employer has no right to keep you at work past the agreed hours if they are not paying you or have the intention to give you the time back. Sometimes you may need to stay over your shift, but they must pay you or agree a time for you to take it back, whether it be coming in later or leaving early another day. 

For employment law questions you can contact