Legislation: Employment Legislation

Question 1

Define employment legislation.

Answer 1

Refers to the laws in place to protect workers’ rights.

Question 2

What is one of the main things workers are entitled to?

Answer 2

An employment contract

Question 3

What information does an employment contract set out? (6)

Answer 3

• Business name
• Employee name
• Nature of their role
• Pay
• Hours of work
• How much holiday they’re allowed

Question 4

What does the law in the UK protect workers from?

Answer 4

Working more than an average of 48 hours per week

Question 5

What are full time employees entitled to?

Answer 5

A minimum of 5.6 weeks of paid holiday per year

Question 6

What is an employment contract and what does it do? (3)

Answer 6

• A legal, written document which both parties sign
• It legally protects both businesses and workers
• It is legally binding

Question 7

What does it mean for a contract to be legally binding?

Answer 7

There are consequences if either side of those who agreed to sign the contract breaks the terms of it.

Question 8

What may happen to employees who break the terms of a contract?

Answer 8

They can be dismissed from their job.

Question 9

What may happen to employers who break the terms of a contract?

Answer 9

They may be forced to pay compensation

Question 10

What should an employee do when they feel that their employer is not fulfilling terms of their contract?

Answer 10

They should bring this up with the employer

Question 11

Examples of ways an employer could not be fulfilling terms of their contract. (2)

Answer 11

• By not paying the employee by the agreed rate
• By not allowing the employee to take paid holiday that they’re legally obliged to

Question 12

What can an employee do when they feel that their employer is still not fulfilling terms of their contract after discussing?

Answer 12

They can take their case to a tribunal

Question 13

What is a tribunal? (4)

Answer 13

A hearing where:
- The employee can express their complaint
- The business can defend itself
- The member of the tribunal act as judges

Question 14

What do members of the tribunal decide and what happens If this occurs?

Answer 14

They decide whether the employer is acting unfairly or not - if so they can order the employer to pay compensation.

Question 15

What else, other than when terms are not followed, do tribunals deal with?

Answer 15

Cases related to unfair dismissals

Question 16

What is an unfair dismissal?

Answer 16

When an employer dismisses an employee from their job for no legal reason.

Question 17

What is an example of an illegal unfair dismissal?

Answer 17

Dismissing a worker because she is pregnant - known as discrimination.

Question 18

What does the Equality Act of 2010 do?

Answer 18

Protects employees from being treated differently or unfairly at work (discrimination).

Question 19

What is discrimination?

Answer 19

When a person or a group of people are treated differently for no just reason.

Question 20

What factors may cause discrimination? (9)

Answer 20

• Age
• Sex
• Religion
• Race
• Sexual orientation
• Gender reassignment
• Martial status
• Pregnancy
• Disability

Question 21

Who does the Equality Act of 2010 apply to? (2)

Answer 21

• Candidates at all stages of recruitment and selection process
• Workers already in a job

Question 22

Whose role is it to enforce the Equality Act of 2010’s law?

Answer 22

The Equality Commission

Question 23

What is the Equality Commission? (4)

Answer 23

A public body that investigates allegations of discrimination and advises policy maker, employers and employees on matters relating to equal opportunities.

Question 24

What is equal pay?

Answer 24

Men and women in the same employment performing equal work should receive equal pay.

Question 25

What is a minimum wage?

Answer 25

Minimum amount that an employee can get paid

Question 26

In the UK, who does the National Living Wage apply to?

Answer 26

Workers aged 25 and over

Question 27

In the UK, when does the National Living Wage increase?

Answer 27

Every April

Question 28

In the UK, what is the National Living Wage in April 2018?

Answer 28

£7.83 per hour

Question 29

In the UK, who does the National Minimum Wage apply to?

Answer 29

Workers over school leaving age but under 25

Question 30

What is the minimum wage for workers of different ages in 2018? (3)

Answer 30

Under 18 = £4.20
18-20 = £5.90
21-24 = £7.38

Question 31

What is the minimum wage for some apprentice in April 2018?

Answer 31

£3.70

Question 32

What are employers obliged to follow and what does this cause to happen to their businesses?

Answer 32

The National Minimum Wage and the National Living Wage; this means as the rate increases, the business’s cost increases.

Question 33

What does an increase in business costs due to National Living/Minimum Wage result businesses to do?

Answer 33

Raise the cost of their products so the profit levels remain the same

Question 34

What may employers do when there is a higher minimum wage? (2)

Answer 34

• Be reluctant towards hiring new workers
• Downsize the business by making current workers reductant

Question 35

What may businesses do to reduce costs?

Answer 35

Larger, multinational businesses may relocate their businesses to areas where there is a lower minimum wage

Question 36

What does a minimum wage ensure for workers?

Answer 36

That they have an income to provide for their basic needs

Question 37

What are the advantages of having a minimum wage? (2)

Answer 37

• Increases motivation which leads to them being more likely to stay for longer
• Can be costly to hire new employees and pay for training so better motivation may reduce additional unnecessary costs

Question 38

What can happen to employers when they are found to be paying under the minimum wage and how may this effect certain businesses?

Answer 38

Can be fined up to £20,000 for each employee found to be working under the legal minimum wage which can be very damaging for small businesses.