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Introduction to working in Northern Ireland

People who work in the United Kingdom have a number of employment rights and responsibilities - find out what they are and where to get further information.

Getting started

If you're not from the United Kingdom or another part of the European Union, you'll usually need permission to work and may require a work permit.

There are lots of ways of finding a job:

  • personal contacts
  • Jobs & Benefits Offices/JobCentres
  • employment agency

These are all common ways of finding employment and you can improve your chances of getting a job by getting training to improve your skills.

Compare your qualifications

If you have got qualifications, use them by having them compared to the UK's qualifications frameworks.

With access to UK National Academic Recognition Information Centre (UK NARIC) qualifications databases, advisors in seveal Jobs and Benefits offices can provide you with a UK comparison for the qualifications you have achieved in your own country.

The Qualification Comparison Service is available at the following Jobs and Benefits offices; Carrickfergus, Shaftesbury Square, Lisburn, Antrim, Limavady, Dungannon and Portadown. It can also be accessed at the EURES office in Gloucester House, Chichester Street, Belfast.

Help in foreign languages

You can find out about your employment rights and responsibilities by downloading these brief guides in English, Cantonese, Lithuanian, Polish and Portuguese and Romanian.

Frequently asked questions for work seekers

Your terms and conditions of employment

Most people who work in the UK are called 'employees', with a contract of employment. The law says this must have certain terms, and it can usually only be changed with your agreement.

Other kinds of worker include agency workers, contractors and self-employed people. Their terms and conditions vary, although all workers have certain basic rights.

Money matters - National Minimum Wage

Almost all workers in the UK who are over 16-years-old have the right by law to get a minimum hourly wage. The amount depends on your age, but the main National Minimum Wage for workers over the age of 21 is £5.93 per hour (current rate).

You will probably have to pay tax and National Insurance contributions, which your employer will take from your wages. There may be other deductions taken from your pay, but these must be agreed by you in writing. Your employer should give you a 'payslip' showing what has been taken.

If you're off work for four days or more because of sickness, you'll probably be able to get Statutory Sick Pay for up to 28 weeks. You'll need a doctor's certificate for any periods of sickness of more than seven days.

Health and safety at work

The UK has strict rules about health and safety at work. Employers must provide you with a safe place to work and ensure that risks are kept to a minimum. Workers have a responsibility to ensure that they don't put themselves or other employees in danger.

Working hours and time off

There are limits to the number of hours that you can be made to work, although you can choose to work more than the limit if you want to. You have the right by law to a certain amount of time off each week, depending on the job you do and the hours you work. You also have the right to a minimum amount of paid holiday each year.

You also have the right to ask for flexible working, that means the right to ask to change your hours or shift pattern, if you have children under the age of six, or 18 in the case of disabled children, or you are the carer of an adult. Your employer doesn't have to agree to your request if there's a good business reason why it wouldn't work however.

Work and the family

Most workers in the UK can take paid time off work for the birth or adoption of a child. The amount of time that can be taken, and the time off you can be paid for, are different and depend on whether you are the mother or the father and how long you've been with the employer.

Parents also have the right to take a certain amount of unpaid time off to look after their children up until their sixth birthday.

Discrimination at work

The UK has strict laws on discrimination (for instance, treating someone differently for no good reason). It's illegal to discriminate against someone because of their gender, sexual orientation, disability, race, colour, ethnic background or religion and since October 2006, it has been illegal to discriminate because of someone's age. It's also illegal to refuse to employ someone because of their membership or non-membership of a trade union.

Leaving a job

There are very few limits on you leaving your job and getting another one, although you're expected to stick to the terms of your contract, usually by giving proper notice. There are laws to protect you against unfair dismissal (being sacked for no good reason).

If you're made redundant - sacked because of lack of work for you to do - you may get a payment if you have been in the job for long enough. Not all rights apply to all workers, for example the rights against unfair dismissal and to redundancy payments do not normally apply to agency workers. You will need to have worked for your employer for a minimum amount of time to qualify for some rights.

Trade unions and what they can do for you

Trade unions are organisations for workers that provide services which include talking to employers about pay and working conditions. Many unions offer free legal advice, financial help, sickness benefits and education.

Resolving problems

If you have problems at work and you're not given your legal rights, there are various ways to sort this out. An Industrial Tribunal will hear cases that involve work problems, but you should try to sort out problems with your employer first. Most employers have a company complaints procedure known legally as a 'grievance procedure' that you can use.

Where to get help

For more information on where to get help with employment issues find out more about trade unions.

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