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Employment status (worker, employee, self-employed, director or contractor) affects employment rights and employer responsibilities in the workplace

• Overview

  In employment law a person’s employment status helps determine: their…

• Worker

  A person is generally classed as a ‘worker’ if: they have a contract or…

• Employee

  An employee is someone who works under an employment contract. A person…

• Employee shareholders

  An employee shareholder is someone who works under an employment contract…

• Self-employed and contractor

  A person is self-employed if they run their business for themselves and…

• Director

  Company directors run limited companies on behalf of shareholders.…

• Office holder

  A person who’s been appointed to a position by a company or organisation…

• Legal decisions on employment status

  A court or employment tribunal (known as an industrial tribunal in…

Who can set up employee ownership, employee shares and engagement, employee directors, model documentation

Employers' responsibilities for different contract types: full-time, part-time, fixed term, agency workers, consultants, zero hours, family members, volunteers and young workers

• Overview

  As an employer, the tax and employment responsibilities you have for your…

• Full-time and part-time contracts

  As an employer you must give employees: a written statement of employment…

• Fixed-term contracts

  Fixed-term contracts: last for a certain length of time are set in advance…

• Agency staff

  As an employer, you can hire temporary staff through agencies. This means:…

• Freelancers, consultants and contractors

  If you hire a freelancer, consultant or contractor it means that: they are…

• Zero-hours contracts

  Zero-hours contracts are also known as casual contracts. Zero-hours…

• Employing family, young people and volunteers

  Family If you hire family members you must: avoid special treatment in…

Get your business ready to employ staff - your responsibilities as an employer, register with HMRC, set up PAYE, get insurance

A contract is an agreement between employee and employer setting out implied and explicit terms and conditions - written statement of particulars, collective agreements

Employee rights and employer legal obligations - the Information and Consultation of Employee regulations, setting up information and consultation agreements, complaints

Employ someone: agree a contract, right to work checks, DBS checks, workplace pensions, set up PAYE, tell HMRC

How to dismiss staff fairly, working within dismissal rules and dealing with dismissals relating to whistleblowing

Whistleblowing - what it is, who to tell, what to expect and how to complain if you're treated unfairly

Guidance you should consider when considering the employee shareholder employment status.

• Updated: 23 November 2016