5 Key Facts About Part-Time Workers' Rights

According to the UK Parliament's latest labour market statistics, over 8 million people are currently employed on a part-time basis. Part-time workers in the UK are protected under The Part-time Workers (Prevention of Less Favourable Treatment) Regulations 2000.

If you have part-time workers or are handling flexible working requests, here are five key points about the legal safeguards for part-time workers that it is important to be aware of:

• Equal Treatment: Part-time employees must be treated equally to full-time workers, including pay, benefits, and leave entitlements, unless there is a valid and objective justification for any differences.
• Pro Rata Basis: Benefits such as holiday allowances and pension contributions should be calculated on a proportional, or pro rata, basis to reflect the part-time hours worked.
• Right to Request Full-Time Employment: Part-time workers have the right to request full-time hours if a suitable position becomes available within the company.
• Protection from Unfair Treatment: Part-time employees are protected from being treated unfavourably purely because of their part-time status, essentially this means that they are protected against unfair treatment and discrimination because they work part-time.
• Equal Access to Training and Promotion: Part-time employees are entitled to the same opportunities for training and career development as their full-time counterparts.

It's worth noting that women and people with disabilities are still statistically more likely to be part-time workers. Employers should keep in mind the potential for sex or disability discrimination claims alongside claims under the Part-time Workers Regulations if part-time staff are treated less favourably than full-time employees.

For more information on the rights of part-time workers or any other employment law queries, please reach out to our Employment Team at 01635 896336 or hello@fentonelliott.co.uk.