Employment Protection (Consolidation) Act 1978

146 Miscellaneous classes of employment. E+W+S

F1 (1)

(2) Parts II, III, [F2 and V] and sections 8, 9, 53 and 86 do not apply to employment under a contract of employment in police service or to persons engaged in such employment.

(3) In subsection (2), “police service” means service—

(a) as a member of any constabulary maintained by virtue of any enactment, or

(b) in any other capacity by virtue of which a person has the powers of privileges of a constable.

(4) Subject to subsections (5), (6) and (7), the following provisions of this Act (which confer rights which do not depend upon an employee having a qualifying period of continuous employment) do not apply to employment under a contract which normally involves employment for less than sixteen hours weekly, that is to say, sections F3 . . . 8 F4 . . . and 29.

[F5 (4A) Subject to subsection (4B), subsection (4) shall have effect as respects section 8 subject to the following modifications, namely—

(a) the substitution of a reference to eight hours weekly for the reference to sixteen hours weekly, and

(b) the omission of the words “Subject to subsections (5), (6) and (7)".

(4B) Subsection (4A) shall not apply in relation to employment if, at the relevant date, the number of employees employed by the employer, added to the number employed by any associated employer, is less than twenty.

(4C) For the purposes of subsection (4B) “relevant date” means the date on which any payment of wages or salary is made to an employee in respect of which he would, apart from subsection (4B), have the right to an itemised pay statement.]

(5) If the employee’s relations with his employer cease to be governed by a contract which normally involves work for sixteen hours or more weekly and become governed by a contract which normally involves employment for eight hours or more, but less than sixteen hours, weekly, the employee shall nevertheless for a period of twenty-six weeks, computed in accordance with subsection (6), be treated for the purposes of subsection (4) as if his contract normally involved employment for sixteen hours or more weekly.

(6) In computing the said period of twenty-six weeks no account shall be taken of any week—

(a) during which the employee is in fact employed for sixteen hours or more;

(b) during which the employee takes part in a strike (as defined by paragraph 24 of Schedule 13) or is absent from work because of a lock-out (as so defined) by his employer; or

(c) during which there is no contract of employment but which, by virtue of paragraph 9(1) of Schedule 13, counts in computing a period of continuous employment.

(7) An employee whose relations with his employer are governed by a contract of employment which normally involves employment for eight hours or more, but less than sixteen hours, weekly shall nevertheless, if he has been continuously employed for a period of five years or more be treated for the purposes of subsection (4) as if his contract normally involved employment for sixteen hours or more weekly.

[F6 (8) References in subsections (4) to (7) to weeks are to weeks within the meaning of Schedule 13.]

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 146(1) repealed by Employment Act 1982 (c. 46, SIF 43:5), Sch. 4 with saving in S.I. 1982/1656, Sch. 2

F2 Words “and V" substituted for words “V and VII" by S.I. 1983/624, regs. 2-4 where “the relevant date" (within the meaning of s. 122(2) of the Act) falls on or after 1.6.1983

F3 Words in s. 146(4) (which were inserted with saving by Employment Act 1982 (c. 46, SIF 43:5), s. 20, Sch. 2 para. 8(5)(a)) repealed (30.11.1993) by 1993 c. 19, s. 51, Sch.10; S.I. 1993/2503, art. 2(2), Sch.2.

F4 Words in s. 146(4) repealed (16.10.1992) by Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 (c. 52), ss. 300(1), 302, Sch. 1 (with savings in Sch. 3 para. 2).

F5 S. 146(4A)-(4C) inserted (30.11.1993) by 1993 c. 19, s.27; S.I. 1993/2503, art. 2(2), Sch.2.

F6 S. 146(8) added with saving by Employment Act 1982 (c. 46, SIF 43:5), s. 20, Sch. 2 para. 8(5)(b)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 146 modified (E.W.) by National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990 (c. 19, SIF 113:2), s. 7(2)(d)

C2 S. 146 modified by National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978 (c. 29, SIF 123:2), s. 12C (as added by National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990 (c. 19, SIF 113:2), s. 31)