Employment law exists in many different forms…
Even if you don’t think it directly affects you, you might be surprised exactly what is covered – and how much impact it could have on your career.
To help make sure you know what it in encompasses, here’s our guide on why employment law exists:
What is employment law?
Employment law is a broad term that covers all aspects of employment.
It could refer to everything from your contract, through to laws which safeguard against discrimination and unfair dismissal.
Why does employment law exist?
Employment law exists to regulate the relationship between businesses and their employees.
By complying with relevant legislation, both employers and their staff members can ensure that their hiring processes, dismissal processes, and their workplace as a whole, are fair for every individual.
Employment law also helps us combat discrimination, and effectively promote equality at work.
What does employment law cover?
Some examples of what’s covered by employment law include:
- Age discrimination
- Bullying and harassment
- Disability
- Discrimination based on race, religion, sexuality or gender
- Dismissal and employee grievances
- Employment contracts
- Equal pay
- Minimum wage
- Parental leave
- Redundancy
- Working hours
However, this is by no means an exhaustive list, and employment law is used to protect the rights of employers and their employees in a number of other ways.
How do I find out more about employment law?
Employment law is ever-changing. To stay up-to-date and find out more about employment law, visit direct.gov.
Alternatively, speak to a member of your HR team, who should be able to provide you with a general summary of the key laws you need to know.
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