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Blog — Labor law & overtime

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All Working time Procedures Employee protection Specific situations Pay slip Overtime

Zero-hours contracts: holiday pay, cancelled shifts, and money you can claim now

Specific situations

8 MIN · 7 SEPT 2026

Zero-hours contracts: holiday pay, cancelled shifts, and money you can claim now

Zero-hours rights that apply now: National Minimum Wage, statutory holiday (12.07% and rolled-up pay), rest breaks, excl...

Tips and service charges since October 2024: what employers must pass on

Since 1 October 2024 the Employment (Allocation of Tips) Act 2023 requires employers to pass on qualifying tips fairly a...

Travel between jobs: when travel time counts for National Minimum Wage

Ordinary home-to-work commuting usually does not count for National Minimum Wage, but travel between assignments during ...

Unauthorised deductions from wages: when your employer cannot take your money

When UK employers can lawfully deduct from wages under the Employment Rights Act, retail shortfall limits, National Mini...

Uniforms, tools and till shortages: deductions that can breach National Minimum Wage

How uniform costs, tool purchases, till shortfalls and accommodation charges interact with ERA deduction rules and the N...

Holiday pay you never received: reclaiming statutory leave pay

Statutory holiday is 5.6 weeks' paid leave. If you took leave unpaid, never accrued what you should, or left without pay...

From informal complaint to tribunal: a practical unpaid-hours roadmap

End-to-end unpaid hours path: check figures, raise with your employer, grievance, Acas Early Conciliation, then ET1. Dua...

Unpaid overtime in the UK: what the law actually requires

No automatic statutory overtime premium in the UK: contractual rates, National Minimum Wage risks when extra hours are u...

Unpaid wages in the UK: what you are owed and how to claim

Missed a payday or short-changed on a shift? How UK unpaid wages work under the Employment Rights Act, what evidence to ...

Written statement of employment particulars: hours and pay you can rely on

Day-one written statement rules for pay, hours and place of work under ERA 1996 Part I and GOV.UK/Acas. How the particul...

Young workers under 18: shorter hours and stricter rest rules

UK rules for workers above school leaving age and under 18: max 8 hours a day and 40 hours a week, tighter rest and nigh...

The 48-hour working week and opting out: your rights if hours pile up

How the UK 48-hour average working week works under the Working Time Regulations, when a written opt-out is valid, young...

Acas Early Conciliation: the step before an employment tribunal

Before most employment tribunal claims you must notify Acas. What Early Conciliation can and cannot do, how it pauses th...

Agency workers and unpaid hours: equal treatment and pay claims

Day-one agency worker rights, equal treatment after 12 weeks under the Agency Workers Regulations 2010, who pays between...

Bank holidays and Sunday work: paid time off is often contractual

UK bank holidays often sit inside the statutory 5.6 weeks unless your contract adds more. There is no general nationwide...

Clocking off early on paper: unpaid minutes that add up below National Minimum Wage

Systematic unpaid opening and closing can drag your average under the National Minimum Wage. How GOV.UK calculating rule...

Employment tribunal time limits for unpaid wages: 3 months minus one day (and the October 2026 change)

Dual regime explained: most unpaid wages claims still use 3 months minus 1 day; from 1 October 2026 most become 6 months...

HMRC National Minimum Wage complaint vs tribunal: which route to use

For the same NMW underpayment you generally choose HMRC or an employment tribunal, not both. Compare HMRC arrears (up to...

Holiday pay and normal remuneration: overtime, commission and bonuses

How UK statutory holiday pay treats normal remuneration for 4 weeks (regulation 13) versus basic pay for the remaining 1...

Holiday pay when you leave a job: accrued leave you must be paid

When your job ends, untaken statutory holiday is usually paid in lieu under Working Time Regulations regulation 14. How ...

Irregular hours and zero-hours holiday pay after April 2024: what you are owed

How irregular-hours and zero-hours workers accrue holiday and get paid after April 2024, including the 12.07% method, ro...

Mandatory training time: getting paid for courses your employer requires

Employer-required training is treated as working time for National Minimum Wage, including associated travel in many cas...

Paid below National Minimum Wage: how much you can recover

If your hourly rate sits under the National Living Wage or National Minimum Wage, use the April 2026 rates, work a GBP a...

Night work limits and sleep-in shifts: National Minimum Wage for hours you are awake

Who counts as a night worker in the UK, the average 8-hour night limit you cannot opt out of, why there is no statutory ...

On-call and standby: when waiting time must be paid at least National Minimum Wage

Cautious GOV.UK guide to on-call and standby for National Minimum Wage: work types, workplace versus home availability, ...

Part-time workers: pro-rata holiday and underpaid hours

How UK part-time workers get 5.6 weeks' holiday pro rata, protection from less favourable treatment under the 2000 Regul...

Payslips: your right to see hours and deductions (and what missing hours can prove)

UK itemised payslip rights under ERA section 8: what must appear on or before payday, when hours must be shown, and how ...

Proving your hours: records, rotas and payslips for a wage claim

How UK employers must keep National Minimum Wage records, what workers can request, and how to build an evidence pack fr...

Rest breaks at work: the 20-minute rule and what if you never get one

UK Working Time Regulations rest: 20-minute break if you work more than 6 hours, 11-hour daily rest, weekly rest, unpaid...

Series of underpayments: claiming up to two years of unpaid wages

Acas guidance on claiming roughly up to two years of unpaid wages when underpayments are linked or less than three month...

National Minimum Wage and Living Wage: How to Check You Are Paid Correctly

Is your employer paying you at least the UK minimum wage? Learn the 2025/26 rates, how to calculate your effective hourl...

Unpaid Overtime in the UK: What Are Your Rights?

Working unpaid overtime in the UK? Find out when it's illegal, how to calculate what you're owed, and the steps to recla...

The 48-Hour Working Week: Your Rights Under the Working Time Regulations

Can your employer make you work more than 48 hours a week? Understand the UK opt-out rules, rest breaks, night work limi...

Understanding Your UK Payslip: A Complete Guide to Every Line

Confused by your UK payslip? This plain-English guide breaks down every line, gross pay, tax codes, NI, pension, student...

Holiday Pay in the UK: Are You Getting Your Full 28 Days?

How much holiday are you entitled to in the UK? Learn about your 28 days statutory leave, bank holiday rules, how holida...

Unfair Dismissal: When You Can Claim and How

Have you been unfairly dismissed? Learn when you can claim unfair dismissal in the UK, the process, time limits, and com...

Redundancy Rights: Pay, Notice, and Your Options

Facing redundancy in the UK? Understand your rights to redundancy pay, notice periods, consultation, and how to challeng...

Statutory Sick Pay and Workplace Absence Rights

Understand your right to Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) in the UK, who qualifies, how much you get, and what to do if your emp...

How to File a Claim at the Employment Tribunal

Step-by-step guide to filing a UK Employment Tribunal claim, from ACAS conciliation to the hearing. Know the deadlines a...

Zero-Hour Contracts: Know Your Rights

On a zero-hour contract in the UK? Learn your rights to holiday pay, minimum wage, and fair treatment. Understand what e...

David Campbell

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