Your Rights in the Workplace

Though it may not always feel like, employees always have certain rights and responsibilities in the workplace. Workers in the United Kingdom are entitled to certain health and safety protections, a workplace free of discrimination and harassment, protection of basic human rights and representation such as in a union or by a rights watchdog agency.

Health and Safety

Every worker in the United Kingdom has the right to work in an environment where risks to their health and safety are minimised as much as possible. These risks must be consistently controlled, meaning that it is the responsibility of every employer and employee to cooperate in contributing to healthy, safe working environments. Not only do health and safety regulations govern the physical health of workers in the workplace, but the mental and emotional health as well. Because employers have a duty to speak with employees about health and safety, a Safety Representative may act on behalf of all workers. Most health and safety requirements in UK workplaces stem from the Health and Safety at Work Act. For more information about health and safety issues in the workplace, contact the Health and Safety Executive (www.hse.gov.uk).

Discrimination and Harassment

Every worker in the United Kingdom has the right to work in an environment free from harassment and protected from discrimination based on age, race, religion, gender, sexual orientation and disability status (at the very least). Discrimination is defined as an employer treating one employee less favourably than another. Harassment encompasses intimidating or offensive behaviours, including language. Discrimination and/or harassment do not need to be intended in order to be present, they may be indirect but still harmful to workers. For further information on a worker's right to a workplace free from discrimination and harassment contact the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) on 08457 47 47 47. This free, confidential helpline is open between 8am and 6pm on weekdays.

Human Rights In the Workplace

It has been said that "workers rights are human rights" and indeed much human rights law is already present in employment laws in the United Kingdom. For employees of public bodies, there is a further layer of protection for their human rights. The Human Rights Act includes provisions for workers to have a right to a private life (free of monitoring) and the right to see any information an employee may hold about them. These provisions can be violated or suspended, however, if an Act of Parliament compels an employer to do so.

Workers Rights Representation

Workers in the United Kingdom are also entitled to representation. For many workers this means joining a union. The right to unionise is protected in the United Kingdom, though in Northern Ireland there may be certain restrictions. Further information on these restrictions is available from the Labour Relations Agency (www.lra.org.uk). The right to not unionise is also protected. This means that no worker can be treated differently for belonging to or not belonging to a union. There are also some workers rights watchdog agencies that can help represent workers. The Workers Rights Consortium (www.workersrights.org) is one such agency that works throughout the world to monitor working conditions and expose unfair labour practices.

Certain workers rights are protected by law in the United Kingdom. The right to certain standards of health and safety in the workplace, the right to a workplace free of discrimination and harassment, the right to human rights protection in the workplace and the right to representation are just a few of the workers rights that are specifically protected in the UK.