Employment rights

To help supplement your income during your time at Imperial you may well decide to take up some part-time work during your studies. There is often plenty of local businesses and organisations who offer part-time work to students. When entering part-time work it is often a good idea to familiarise yourself with some of your rights when you actually start work.

Your Rights

• Minimum wage The minimum wage is regulated by HM Revenue and Customs. Make sure you aren't being under-paid.

• Unfair working times are defined in the working time regulations of 1998. They state that you are not allowed to work longer than a 48 hours week and is inforced the Health and Safety Executive. If you are and would like some advice on your rights please contact the Advice Centre.

• Unfair dismissal occurs when employers don't follow a certain procedure to dismiss someone. The procedure is outlined on the direct.gov website.

• National Insurance numbers are required by everyone who wants to work in this country. They are issued by HM Revenue and Customs.

Your Part-time Rights

Also as a part-time worker it is important that you do not get treated differently from full time staff. In the Part-time workers regulations it states the following rights for part time workers:

• The same hourly rate of pay as full time workers
• Overtime pay at the same rate if they have worked full time hours
• Not to be treated less favourably with regard to issues such as sickness pay and maternity leave
• Have the same access to training as full time workers

These pages are intended to give you some general information on employment rights. If you feel you have been treated unfairly by an employer then please do not hesitate to contact the Advice Centre

Nigel Cooke
(020) 7594 8067
IC Extension 48067