Employability and the law

Question 1

Employment law can cover what factors?

Answer 1

Contracts
Hours
Annual leave
Sick pay
Parenteral leave
Discrimination
Recruitment
Tac
National insurance
Pension

Question 2

What does legislation establish?

Answer 2

Establishes minimum requirements in terms of

working conditions for employees

Question 3

What must employers do when recruiting?

Answer 3

• Not allow bias (conscious or unconscious) to affect their decisions
• Make reasonable adjustments for applicants
• Maintain records, so they can explain why they chose
  one candidate over another.

Question 4

The law protects you against discrimination at work, including?

Answer 4

• Dismissal
• Employment terms and conditions
• Pay and benefits
• Promotion and transfer opportunities
• Training
• Recruitment
• Redundancy

Question 5

If you think you’ve been unfairly discriminated against you can?

Answer 5

• Complain directly to the person or organisation
• Use someone else to help you sort it out (called ‘mediation’ or ‘alternative dispute resolution’)
• Make a claim in a court or tribunal

Question 6

Most employees are entitled to work a maximum … hour average
working week.

Answer 6

48

Question 7

Employers may consult on and agree a system of … hours

Answer 7

Annualised

Total number of hours worked do not exceed an average of 48 hours per week

Question 8

Almost all employees are entitled to a minimum of …

weeks paid leave per year

Answer 8

5.6

Question 9

How can employers influence annual leave?

Answer 9

• Employers can restrict when leave can be taken - Employees must be paid in lieu of untaken leave if contract terminated

Question 10

Describe ‘Contractual’ or ‘occupational’ sick pay

Answer 10

Employees are paid their full salary for a specified number of days’
sickness absence per year

Question 11

Describe Statutory Sick Pay (SSP)

Answer 11

• Eligible for SSP after 4 days off sick
• Maximum entitlement of 28 weeks of SSP in any period of entitlement
• Employee must provide the employer with evidence of incapacity for work
• Rate of SSP is usually much lower than most employees’ weekly salary – the weekly rate is £94.25
• Any contractual sick pay paid to an employee is set off against any SSP due for the same day.

Question 12

What are the statutory maternity leave options?

Answer 12

• 26 weeks Ordinary maternity leave
• 26 weeks of Additional maternity leave
• 39 weeks statutory maternity pay

Question 13

Describe statutory maternity pay

Answer 13

• First 6 weeks: 90% of average weekly earnings (AWE) before tax
• Remaining 33 weeks: £151.97 or 90% of AWE (whichever is lower)

Question 14

You cannot return to work within how long of childbirth?

Answer 14

2 weeks

Question 15

Tax you pay on your income; not all types of income are taxable, and the rate depends on?

Answer 15

How much you earn

Where you live

Question 16

What is national insurance?

Answer 16

• Paid to qualify for certain benefits and the State Pension

- Employee earning >£184 per week

Question 17

What are some employee rights

Answer 17

• Serve the employer honestly and faithfully
• Work with due diligence and care
• Entitled to a reasonable degree of privacy
• Entitled to blow the whistle on their employer’s wrongdoings
• Get a pay statement, showing total gross pay, deductions and net pay
• Entitled to keep their jobs if the business changes hands
• Discipline and grievances dealt with using ‘fair and reasonable’ procedures

Question 18

A contract is an agreement that sets out the following

terms:

Answer 18

Employment conditions
Rights
Responsibilities
Duties
- these are LEGALLY BINDING