Employment rights - pay and conditions

National Minimum Wage

If you work, you are entitled to a minimum wage. It’s set by the Government to ensure all employees are treated fairly and receive a minimum hourly rate. These rates are reviewed every year, and the National Minimum Wage rates from 1 October 2009 are:

• £5.80 an hour - age 22 and over
• £4.83 an hour - age 18 to 21
• £3.57 an hour - age 16 to 17

Flexible working hours

You may have the right to ask your employer for flexible working hours if:

• you have worked for the same employer for a minimum two week continuous period, and
• your child is under 16, or
• your child has a disability and is under 18
• have not made another application during the last 12 months

Flexible working hours can mean working part-time, job sharing or only working during the school term. If you satisfy certain conditions, your employer must by law seriously consider your request, although they can refuse if they have a good business reason.

See our flexible working hours section for an overview of the different types of flexible working.