- Latest available (Revised)
- Point in Time (01/05/2012)
- Original (As enacted)
Version Superseded: 06/04/2014
Point in time view as at 01/05/2012.
Employment Rights Act 1996, Part I is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 31 August 2024. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations.
Changes and effects yet to be applied by the editorial team are only applicable when viewing the latest version or prospective version of legislation. They are therefore not accessible when viewing legislation as at a specific point in time. To view the ‘Changes to Legislation’ information for this provision return to the latest version view using the options provided in the ‘What Version’ box above.
(1)Where an employee begins employment with an employer, the employer shall give to the employee a written statement of particulars of employment.
(2)The statement may (subject to section 2(4)) be given in instalments and (whether or not given in instalments) shall be given not later than two months after the beginning of the employment.
(3)The statement shall contain particulars of—
(a)the names of the employer and employee,
(b)the date when the employment began, and
(c)the date on which the employee’s period of continuous employment began (taking into account any employment with a previous employer which counts towards that period).
(4)The statement shall also contain particulars, as at a specified date not more than seven days before the statement (or the instalment containing them) is given, of—
(a)the scale or rate of remuneration or the method of calculating remuneration,
(b)the intervals at which remuneration is paid (that is, weekly, monthly or other specified intervals),
(c)any terms and conditions relating to hours of work (including any terms and conditions relating to normal working hours),
(d)any terms and conditions relating to any of the following—
(i)entitlement to holidays, including public holidays, and holiday pay (the particulars given being sufficient to enable the employee’s entitlement, including any entitlement to accrued holiday pay on the termination of employment, to be precisely calculated),
(ii)incapacity for work due to sickness or injury, including any provision for sick pay, and
(iii)pensions and pension schemes,
(e)the length of notice which the employee is obliged to give and entitled to receive to terminate his contract of employment,
(f)the title of the job which the employee is employed to do or a brief description of the work for which he is employed,
(g)where the employment is not intended to be permanent, the period for which it is expected to continue or, if it is for a fixed term, the date when it is to end,
(h)either the place of work or, where the employee is required or permitted to work at various places, an indication of that and of the address of the employer,
(j)any collective agreements which directly affect the terms and conditions of the employment including, where the employer is not a party, the persons by whom they were made, and
(k)where the employee is required to work outside the United Kingdom for a period of more than one month—
(i)the period for which he is to work outside the United Kingdom,
(ii)the currency in which remuneration is to be paid while he is working outside the United Kingdom,
(iii)any additional remuneration payable to him, and any benefits to be provided to or in respect of him, by reason of his being required to work outside the United Kingdom, and
(iv)any terms and conditions relating to his return to the United Kingdom.
(5)Subsection (4)(d)(iii) does not apply to an employee of a body or authority if—
(a)the employee’s pension rights depend on the terms of a pension scheme established under any provision contained in or having effect under any Act, and
(b)any such provision requires the body or authority to give to a new employee information concerning the employee’s pension rights or the determination of questions affecting those rights.
(1)If, in the case of a statement under section 1, there are no particulars to be entered under any of the heads of paragraph (d) or (k) of subsection (4) of that section, or under any of the other paragraphs of subsection (3) or (4) of that section, that fact shall be stated.
(2)A statement under section 1 may refer the employee for particulars of any of the matters specified in subsection (4)(d)(ii) and (iii) of that section to the provisions of some other document which is reasonably accessible to the employee.
(3)A statement under section 1 may refer the employee for particulars of either of the matters specified in subsection (4)(e) of that section to the law or to the provisions of any collective agreement directly affecting the terms and conditions of the employment which is reasonably accessible to the employee.
(4)The particulars required by section 1(3) and (4)(a) to (c), (d)(i), (f) and (h) shall be included in a single document.
(5)Where before the end of the period of two months after the beginning of an employee’s employment the employee is to begin to work outside the United Kingdom for a period of more than one month, the statement under section 1 shall be given to him not later than the time when he leaves the United Kingdom in order to begin so to work.
(6)A statement shall be given to a person under section 1 even if his employment ends before the end of the period within which the statement is required to be given.
(1)A statement under section 1 shall include a note—
(a)specifying any disciplinary rules applicable to the employee or referring the employee to the provisions of a document specifying such rules which is reasonably accessible to the employee,
[F1(aa)specifying any procedure applicable to the taking of disciplinary decisions relating to the employee, or to a decision to dismiss the employee, or referring the employee to the provisions of a document specifying such a procedure which is reasonably accessible to the employee,]
(b)specifying (by description or otherwise)—
(i)a person to whom the employee can apply if dissatisfied with any disciplinary decision relating to him [F2or any decision to dismiss him] , and
(ii)a person to whom the employee can apply for the purpose of seeking redress of any grievance relating to his employment,
and the manner in which any such application should be made, and
(c)where there are further steps consequent on any such application, explaining those steps or referring to the provisions of a document explaining them which is reasonably accessible to the employee.
(2)Subsection (1) does not apply to rules, disciplinary decisions, [F3decisions to dismiss] grievances or procedures relating to health or safety at work.
(3)F4. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(4)F4. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(5)The note shall also state whether there is in force a contracting-out certificate (issued in accordance with Chapter I of Part III of the M1Pension Schemes Act 1993) stating that the employment is contracted-out employment (for the purposes of that Part of that Act).
Textual Amendments
F1S. 3(1)(aa) inserted (1.10.2004) by Employment Act 2002 (c. 22), ss. 35(2), 55(2); S.I. 2004/1717, art. 2(2) (subject to art. 3)
F2Words in s. 3(1)(b)(i) inserted (1.10.2004) by Employment Act 2002 (c. 22), ss. 35(3), 55(2); S.I. 2004/1717, art. 2(2) (subject to art. 3)
F3Words in s. 3(2) inserted (1.10.2004) by Employment Act 2002 (c. 22), ss. 35(4), 55(2); S.I. 2004/1717, art. 2(2) (subject to art. 3)
F4S. 3(3)(4) repealed (1.11.2004) by Employment Act 2002 (c. 22), ss. 36, 54, 55(2), Sch. 8; S.I. 2004/1717, art. 2(2) (subject to art. 3); S.I. 2004/2822, art. 2(b)
Marginal Citations
(1)If, after the material date, there is a change in any of the matters particulars of which are required by sections 1 to 3 to be included or referred to in a statement under section 1, the employer shall give to the employee a written statement containing particulars of the change.
(2)For the purposes of subsection (1)—
(a)in relation to a matter particulars of which are included or referred to in a statement given under section 1 otherwise than in instalments, the material date is the date to which the statement relates,
(b)in relation to a matter particulars of which—
(i)are included or referred to in an instalment of a statement given under section 1, or
(ii)are required by section 2(4) to be included in a single document but are not included in an instalment of a statement given under section 1 which does include other particulars to which that provision applies,
the material date is the date to which the instalment relates, and
(c)in relation to any other matter, the material date is the date by which a statement under section 1 is required to be given.
(3)A statement under subsection (1) shall be given at the earliest opportunity and, in any event, not later than—
(a)one month after the change in question, or
(b)where that change results from the employee being required to work outside the United Kingdom for a period of more than one month, the time when he leaves the United Kingdom in order to begin so to work, if that is earlier.
(4)A statement under subsection (1) may refer the employee to the provisions of some other document which is reasonably accessible to the employee for a change in any of the matters specified in sections 1(4)(d)(ii) and (iii) and 3(1)(a) and (c).
(5)A statement under subsection (1) may refer the employee for a change in either of the matters specified in section 1(4)(e) to the law or to the provisions of any collective agreement directly affecting the terms and conditions of the employment which is reasonably accessible to the employee.
(6)Where, after an employer has given to an employee a statement under section 1, either—
(a)the name of the employer (whether an individual or a body corporate or partnership) is changed without any change in the identity of the employer, or
(b)the identity of the employer is changed in circumstances in which the continuity of the employee’s period of employment is not broken,
and subsection (7) applies in relation to the change, the person who is the employer immediately after the change is not required to give to the employee a statement under section 1; but the change shall be treated as a change falling within subsection (1) of this section.
(7)This subsection applies in relation to a change if it does not involve any change in any of the matters (other than the names of the parties) particulars of which are required by sections 1 to 3 to be included or referred to in the statement under section 1.
(8)A statement under subsection (1) which informs an employee of a change such as is referred to in subsection (6)(b) shall specify the date on which the employee’s period of continuous employment began.
(1)Sections 1 to 4 apply to an employee who at any time comes or ceases to come within the exceptions from those sections provided by [F5section] 199, and under section 209, as if his employment with his employer terminated or began at that time.
(2)The fact that section 1 is directed by subsection (1) to apply to an employee as if his employment began on his ceasing to come within the exceptions referred to in that subsection does not affect the obligation under section 1(3)(b) to specify the date on which his employment actually began.
Textual Amendments
F5Words in s. 5(1) substituted (25.10.1999) by 1999 c. 26, s. 32(3); S.I. 1999/2830, art. 2(1), Sch. 1 Pt. I (with Sch. 3 para. 7(2))
In sections 2 to 4 references to a document or collective agreement which is reasonably accessible to an employee are references to a document or collective agreement which—
(a)the employee has reasonable opportunities of reading in the course of his employment, or
(b)is made reasonably accessible to the employee in some other way.
The Secretary of State may by order provide that section 1 shall have effect as if particulars of such further matters as may be specified in the order were included in the particulars required by that section; and, for that purpose, the order may include such provisions amending that section as appear to the Secretary of State to be expedient.
(1)Subsections (2) and (3) apply where—
(a)an employer gives an employee a document in writing in the form of a contract of employment or letter of engagement,
(b)the document contains information which, were the document in the form of a statement under section 1, would meet the employer’s obligation under that section in relation to the matters mentioned in subsections (3) and (4)(a) to (c), (d)(i), (f) and (h) of that section, and
(c)the document is given after the beginning of the employment and before the end of the period for giving a statement under that section.
(2)The employer’s duty under section 1 in relation to any matter shall be treated as met if the document given to the employee contains information which, were the document in the form of a statement under that section, would meet the employer’s obligation under that section in relation to that matter.
(3)The employer’s duty under section 3 shall be treated as met if the document given to the employee contains information which, were the document in the form of a statement under section 1 and the information included in the form of a note, would meet the employer’s obligation under section 3.
(4)For the purposes of this section a document to which subsection (1)(a) applies shall be treated, in relation to information in respect of any of the matters mentioned in section 1(4), as specifying the date on which the document is given to the employee as the date as at which the information applies.
(5)Where subsection (2) applies in relation to any matter, the date on which the document by virtue of which that subsection applies is given to the employee shall be the material date in relation to that matter for the purposes of section 4(1).
(6)Where subsection (3) applies, the date on which the document by virtue of which that subsection applies is given to the employee shall be the material date for the purposes of section 4(1) in relation to the matters of which particulars are required to be given under section 3.
(7)The reference in section 4(6) to an employer having given a statement under section 1 shall be treated as including his having given a document by virtue of which his duty to give such a statement is treated as met.
Textual Amendments
F6Ss. 7A, 7B inserted (1.10.2004) by Employment Act 2002 (c. 22), ss. 37, 55(2); S.I. 2004/1717, art. 2(2) (subject to art. 3)
A document in the form of a contract of employment or letter of engagement given by an employer to an employee before the beginning of the employee’s employment with the employer shall, when the employment begins, be treated for the purposes of section 7A as having been given at that time.]
Textual Amendments
F6Ss. 7A, 7B inserted (1.10.2004) by Employment Act 2002 (c. 22), ss. 37, 55(2); S.I. 2004/1717, art. 2(2) (subject to art. 3)
(1)An employee has the right to be given by his employer, at or before the time at which any payment of wages or salary is made to him, a written itemised pay statement.
(2)The statement shall contain particulars of—
(a)the gross amount of the wages or salary,
(b)the amounts of any variable, and (subject to section 9) any fixed, deductions from that gross amount and the purposes for which they are made,
(c)the net amount of wages or salary payable, and
(d)where different parts of the net amount are paid in different ways, the amount and method of payment of each part-payment.
(1)A pay statement given in accordance with section 8 need not contain separate particulars of a fixed deduction if—
(a)it contains instead an aggregate amount of fixed deductions, including that deduction, and
(b)the employer has given to the employee, at or before the time at which the pay statement is given, a standing statement of fixed deductions which satisfies subsection (2).
(2)A standing statement of fixed deductions satisfies this subsection if—
(a)it is in writing,
(b)it contains, in relation to each deduction comprised in the aggregate amount of deductions, particulars of—
(i)the amount of the deduction,
(ii)the intervals at which the deduction is to be made, and
(iii)the purpose for which it is made, and
(c)it is (in accordance with subsection (5)) effective at the date on which the pay statement is given.
(3)A standing statement of fixed deductions may be amended, whether by—
(a)addition of a new deduction,
(b)a change in the particulars, or
(c)cancellation of an existing deduction,
by notice in writing, containing particulars of the amendment, given by the employer to the employee.
(4)An employer who has given to an employee a standing statement of fixed deductions shall—
(a)within the period of twelve months beginning with the date on which the first standing statement was given, and
(b)at intervals of not more than twelve months afterwards,
re-issue it in a consolidated form incorporating any amendments notified in accordance with subsection (3).
(5)For the purposes of subsection (2)(c) a standing statement of fixed deductions—
(a)becomes effective on the date on which it is given to the employee, and
(b)ceases to be effective at the end of the period of twelve months beginning with that date or, where it is re-issued in accordance with subsection (4), with the end of the period of twelve months beginning with the date of the last re-issue.
The Secretary of State may by order—
(a)vary the provisions of sections 8 and 9 as to the particulars which must be included in a pay statement or a standing statement of fixed deductions by adding items to, or removing items from, the particulars listed in those sections or by amending any such particulars, and
(b)vary the provisions of subsections (4) and (5) of section 9 so as to shorten or extend the periods of twelve months referred to in those subsections, or those periods as varied from time to time under this section.
(1)Where an employer does not give an employee a statement as required by section 1, 4 or 8 (either because he gives him no statement or because the statement he gives does not comply with what is required), the employee may require a reference to be made to an [F7employment tribunal] to determine what particulars ought to have been included or referred to in a statement so as to comply with the requirements of the section concerned.
(2)Where—
(a)a statement purporting to be a statement under section 1 or 4, or a pay statement or a standing statement of fixed deductions purporting to comply with section 8 or 9, has been given to an employee, and
(b)a question arises as to the particulars which ought to have been included or referred to in the statement so as to comply with the requirements of this Part,
either the employer or the employee may require the question to be referred to and determined by an [F7employment tribunal].
(3)For the purposes of this section—
(a)a question as to the particulars which ought to have been included in the note required by section 3 to be included in the statement under section 1 does not include any question whether the employment is, has been or will be contracted-out employment (for the purposes of Part III of the M2Pension Schemes Act 1993), and
(b)a question as to the particulars which ought to have been included in a pay statement or standing statement of fixed deductions does not include a question solely as to the accuracy of an amount stated in any such particulars.
(4)An [F7employment tribunal] shall not consider a reference under this section in a case where the employment to which the reference relates has ceased unless an application requiring the reference to be made was made—
(a)before the end of the period of three months beginning with the date on which the employment ceased, or
(b)within such further period as the tribunal considers reasonable in a case where it is satisfied that it was not reasonably practicable for the application to be made before the end of that period of three months.
[F8(5)Section 207A(3) (extension because of mediation in certain European cross-border disputes) applies for the purposes of subsection (4)(a).]
Textual Amendments
F7Words in s. 11(1)(2)(4) and sidenote to s. 11 substituted (1.8.1998) by 1998 c. 8, s. 1(2)(a)(b) (with s. 16(2)); S.I. 1998/1658, art. 2(1), Sch. 1
F8S. 11(5) inserted (20.5.2011 with application as mentioned in regs. 3 and 4 of the amending S.I.) by The Cross-Border Mediation (EU Directive) Regulations 2011 (S.I. 2011/1133), regs. 2, 31
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C1S. 11: power to apply conferred (1.4.1999) by 1998 c. 39, s. 12(4)(a) (with s. 36); S.I. 1998/2574, art. 2(2), Sch. 2
Marginal Citations
(1)Where, on a reference under section 11(1), an [F9employment tribunal] determines particulars as being those which ought to have been included or referred to in a statement given under section 1 or 4, the employer shall be deemed to have given to the employee a statement in which those particulars were included, or referred to, as specified in the decision of the tribunal.
(2)On determining a reference under section 11(2) relating to a statement purporting to be a statement under section 1 or 4, an [F9employment tribunal] may—
(a)confirm the particulars as included or referred to in the statement given by the employer,
(b)amend those particulars, or
(c)substitute other particulars for them,
as the tribunal may determine to be appropriate; and the statement shall be deemed to have been given by the employer to the employee in accordance with the decision of the tribunal.
(3)Where on a reference under section 11 an [F9employment tribunal] finds—
(a)that an employer has failed to give an employee any pay statement in accordance with section 8, or
(b)that a pay statement or standing statement of fixed deductions does not, in relation to a deduction, contain the particulars required to be included in that statement by that section or section 9,
the tribunal shall make a declaration to that effect.
(4)Where on a reference in the case of which subsection (3) applies the tribunal further finds that any unnotified deductions have been made from the pay of the employee during the period of thirteen weeks immediately preceding the date of the application for the reference (whether or not the deductions were made in breach of the contract of employment), the tribunal may order the employer to pay the employee a sum not exceeding the aggregate of the unnotified deductions so made.
(5)For the purposes of subsection (4) a deduction is an unnotified deduction if it is made without the employer giving the employee, in any pay statement or standing statement of fixed deductions, the particulars of the deduction required by section 8 or 9.
Textual Amendments
F9Words in s. 12(1)(2)(3) substituted (1.8.1998) by 1998 c. 8, s. 1(2)(a)(with s. 16(2)); S.I. 1998/1658, art. 2(1), Sch. 1
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C2S. 12: power to apply conferred (1.4.1999) by 1998 c. 39, s. 12(4)(a)(with s. 36); S.I. 1998/2574, art. 2(2), Sch. 2
The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.
Would you like to continue?
The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download.
Would you like to continue?
The Whole Act without Schedules you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.
Would you like to continue?
The Whole Act without Schedules you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download.
Would you like to continue?
The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.
Would you like to continue?
The Whole Act without Schedules you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.
Would you like to continue?
Latest Available (revised):The latest available updated version of the legislation incorporating changes made by subsequent legislation and applied by our editorial team. Changes we have not yet applied to the text, can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area.
Original (As Enacted or Made): The original version of the legislation as it stood when it was enacted or made. No changes have been applied to the text.
Point in Time: This becomes available after navigating to view revised legislation as it stood at a certain point in time via Advanced Features > Show Timeline of Changes or via a point in time advanced search.
Geographical Extent: Indicates the geographical area that this provision applies to. For further information see ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.
Show Timeline of Changes: See how this legislation has or could change over time. Turning this feature on will show extra navigation options to go to these specific points in time. Return to the latest available version by using the controls above in the What Version box.
Access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item from this tab. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:
This timeline shows the different points in time where a change occurred. The dates will coincide with the earliest date on which the change (e.g an insertion, a repeal or a substitution) that was applied came into force. The first date in the timeline will usually be the earliest date when the provision came into force. In some cases the first date is 01/02/1991 (or for Northern Ireland legislation 01/01/2006). This date is our basedate. No versions before this date are available. For further information see the Editorial Practice Guide and Glossary under Help.
Use this menu to access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:
Click 'View More' or select 'More Resources' tab for additional information including: