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Employment Rights Act 1996

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Employment Rights Act 1996, Chapter I is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 25 December 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. Help about Changes to Legislation

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Chapter IE+W+S Continuous employment

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1Pt. XIV Ch. I (ss. 210-219) applied (with modifications) (1.4.1998) by S.I. 1998/366, reg. 31(7)

Pt. XIV Ch. I (ss. 210-219) applied (prosp.) by 1999 c. 29, ss. 411(10), 425(2), Sch. 32 para. 3(8) (with Sch. 12 para. 9(1))

Pt. XIV Ch. I (ss. 210-219) applied (29.1.2001) by S.I. 2000/3386, art. 1(5)

Pt. XIV Ch. I (ss. 210-219) applied (E.W.) (21.5.2001) by S.I. 2001/1185, arts. 3, 4, Sch. para. 120

C2Pt. 14 Ch. 1 applied (1.10.2002) by The Fixed-term Employees (Prevention of Less Favourable Treatment) Regulations 2002 (S.I. 2002/2034), reg. 8(4) (with regs. 13-20)

Pt. 14 Ch. 1 applied (6.4.2002) by The Flexible working (Eligibility, Complaints and Remedies) Regulations 2002 (S.I. 2002/3236), {reg. 3}

C4Pt. 14 Ch. 1 applied (E.W.) (1.3.2007) by National Health Service Act 2006 (c. 41), ss. 30, 227, Sch. 7 para. 3(4)

210 Introductory.E+W+S

(1)References in any provision of this Act to a period of continuous employment are (unless provision is expressly made to the contrary) to a period computed in accordance with this Chapter.

(2)In any provision of this Act which refers to a period of continuous employment expressed in months or years—

(a)a month means a calendar month, and

(b)a year means a year of twelve calendar months.

(3)In computing an employee’s period of continuous employment for the purposes of any provision of this Act, any question—

(a)whether the employee’s employment is of a kind counting towards a period of continuous employment, or

(b)whether periods (consecutive or otherwise) are to be treated as forming a single period of continuous employment,

shall be determined week by week; but where it is necessary to compute the length of an employee’s period of employment it shall be computed in months and years of twelve months in accordance with section 211.

(4)Subject to sections 215 to 217, a week which does not count in computing the length of a period of continuous employment breaks continuity of employment.

(5)A person’s employment during any period shall, unless the contrary is shown, be presumed to have been continuous.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C5Ss. 210-219 applied (E.W.) (1.4.2020) by The Agricultural Wages (Wales) Order 2020 (S.I. 2020/347), arts. 1, 2(3)

C7Ss. 210-219 applied (E.W.) (6.8.2022 with effect from 1.4.2022) by The Agricultural Wages (No. 2) (Wales) Order 2022 (S.I. 2022/794), arts. 1, 2(3)

211 Period of continuous employment.E+W+S

(1)An employee’s period of continuous employment for the purposes of any provision of this Act—

(a)(subject to [F1subsection] (3)) begins with the day on which the employee starts work, and

(b)ends with the day by reference to which the length of the employee’s period of continuous employment is to be ascertained for the purposes of the provision.

F2(2). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(3)If an employee’s period of continuous employment includes one or more periods which (by virtue of section 215, 216 or 217) while not counting in computing the length of the period do not break continuity of employment, the beginning of the period shall be treated as postponed by the number of days falling within that intervening period, or the aggregate number of days falling within those periods, calculated in accordance with the section in question.

Textual Amendments

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C5Ss. 210-219 applied (E.W.) (1.4.2020) by The Agricultural Wages (Wales) Order 2020 (S.I. 2020/347), arts. 1, 2(3)

C7Ss. 210-219 applied (E.W.) (6.8.2022 with effect from 1.4.2022) by The Agricultural Wages (No. 2) (Wales) Order 2022 (S.I. 2022/794), arts. 1, 2(3)

212 Weeks counting in computing period.E+W+S

(1)Any week during the whole or part of which an employee’s relations with his employer are governed by a contract of employment counts in computing the employee’s period of employment.

F3(2). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(3)Subject to subsection (4), any week (not within subsection (1)) during the whole or part of which an employee is—

(a)incapable of work in consequence of sickness or injury,

(b)absent from work on account of a temporary cessation of work, [F4or]

(c)absent from work in circumstances such that, by arrangement or custom, he is regarded as continuing in the employment of his employer for any purpose, F5. . .

F3(d). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

counts in computing the employee’s period of employment.

(4)Not more than twenty-six weeks count under subsection (3)(a) F5. . . between any periods falling under subsection (1).

Textual Amendments

F4Word in s. 212(3)(b) inserted (15.12.1999) by 1999 c. 26, s. 9, Sch. 4 Pt. III para. 38(3)(a); S.I. 1999/2830, art. 2(2), Sch. 1 Pt. II (with Sch. 3 paras. 10, 11)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C5Ss. 210-219 applied (E.W.) (1.4.2020) by The Agricultural Wages (Wales) Order 2020 (S.I. 2020/347), arts. 1, 2(3)

C7Ss. 210-219 applied (E.W.) (6.8.2022 with effect from 1.4.2022) by The Agricultural Wages (No. 2) (Wales) Order 2022 (S.I. 2022/794), arts. 1, 2(3)

213 Intervals in employment.E+W+S

(1)Where in the case of an employee a date later than the date which would be the effective date of termination by virtue of subsection (1) of section 97 is treated for certain purposes as the effective date of termination by virtue of subsection (2) or (4) of that section, the period of the interval between the two dates counts as a period of employment in ascertaining for the purposes of section 108(1) or 119(1) the period for which the employee has been continuously employed.

(2)Where an employee is by virtue of section 138(1) regarded for the purposes of Part XI as not having been dismissed by reason of a renewal or re-engagement taking effect after an interval, the period of the interval counts as a period of employment in ascertaining for the purposes of section 155 or 162(1) the period for which the employee has been continuously employed (except so far as it is to be disregarded under section 214 or 215).

(3)Where in the case of an employee a date later than the date which would be the relevant date by virtue of subsections (2) to (4) of section 145 is treated for certain purposes as the relevant date by virtue of subsection (5) of that section, the period of the interval between the two dates counts as a period of employment in ascertaining for the purposes of section 155 or 162(1) the period for which the employee has been continuously employed (except so far as it is to be disregarded under section 214 or 215).

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C5Ss. 210-219 applied (E.W.) (1.4.2020) by The Agricultural Wages (Wales) Order 2020 (S.I. 2020/347), arts. 1, 2(3)

C7Ss. 210-219 applied (E.W.) (6.8.2022 with effect from 1.4.2022) by The Agricultural Wages (No. 2) (Wales) Order 2022 (S.I. 2022/794), arts. 1, 2(3)

214 Special provisions for redundancy payments.E+W+S

(1)This section applies where a period of continuous employment has to be determined in relation to an employee for the purposes of the application of section 155 or 162(1).

(2)The continuity of a period of employment is broken where—

(a)a redundancy payment has previously been paid to the employee (whether in respect of dismissal or in respect of lay-off or short-time), and

(b)the contract of employment under which the employee was employed was renewed (whether by the same or another employer) or the employee was re-engaged under a new contract of employment (whether by the same or another employer).

(3)The continuity of a period of employment is also broken where—

(a)a payment has been made to the employee (whether in respect of the termination of his employment or lay-off or short-time) in accordance with a scheme under section 1 of the M1Superannuation Act 1972 or arrangements falling within section 177(3), and

(b)he commenced new, or renewed, employment.

(4)The date on which the person’s continuity of employment is broken by virtue of this section—

(a)if the employment was under a contract of employment, is the date which was the relevant date in relation to the payment mentioned in subsection (2)(a) or (3)(a), and

(b)if the employment was otherwise than under a contract of employment, is the date which would have been the relevant date in relation to the payment mentioned in subsection (2)(a) or (3)(a) had the employment been under a contract of employment.

(5)For the purposes of this section a redundancy payment shall be treated as having been paid if—

(a)the whole of the payment has been paid to the employee by the employer,

(b)a tribunal has determined liability and found that the employer must pay part (but not all) of the redundancy payment and the employer has paid that part, or

(c)the Secretary of State has paid a sum to the employee in respect of the redundancy payment under section 167.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C5Ss. 210-219 applied (E.W.) (1.4.2020) by The Agricultural Wages (Wales) Order 2020 (S.I. 2020/347), arts. 1, 2(3)

C7Ss. 210-219 applied (E.W.) (6.8.2022 with effect from 1.4.2022) by The Agricultural Wages (No. 2) (Wales) Order 2022 (S.I. 2022/794), arts. 1, 2(3)

C9S. 214 excluded (13.1.1997) by S.I. 1996/3147, reg. 4

Marginal Citations

215 Employment abroad etc.E+W+S

(1)This Chapter applies to a period of employment—

(a)(subject to the following provisions of this section) even where during the period the employee was engaged in work wholly or mainly outside Great Britain, and

(b)even where the employee was excluded by or under this Act from any right conferred by this Act.

(2)For the purposes of sections 155 and 162(1) a week of employment does not count in computing a period of employment if the employee—

(a)was employed outside Great Britain during the whole or part of the week, and

(b)was not during that week an employed earner for the purposes of the M2Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992 in respect of whom a secondary Class 1 contribution was payable under that Act (whether or not the contribution was in fact paid).

(3)Where by virtue of subsection (2) a week of employment does not count in computing a period of employment, the continuity of the period is not broken by reason only that the week does not count in computing the period; and the number of days which, for the purposes of section 211(3), fall within the intervening period is seven for each week within this subsection.

(4)Any question arising under subsection (2) whether—

(a)a person was an employed earner for the purposes of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992, or

(b)if so, whether a secondary Class 1 contribution was payable in respect of him under that Act,

shall be determined by [F6an officer of the Commissioners of Inland Revenue].

[F7(5)Part II of the Social Security Contributions (Transfer of Functions, etc.) Act 1999 (decisions and appeals) shall apply in relation to the determination of any issue by the Inland Revenue under subsection (4) as if it were a decision falling within section 8(1) of that Act.]

(6)Subsection (2) does not apply in relation to a person who is—

(a)employed as a master or seaman in a British ship, and

(b)ordinarily resident in Great Britain.

Textual Amendments

F6Words in s. 215(4) substituted (1.4.1999) by 1999 c. 2, s. 18, Sch. 7 para. 21(2); S.I. 1999/527, art. 2(b), Sch. 2

F7S. 215(5) substituted (1.4.1999) by 1999 c. 2, s. 18, Sch. 7 para. 21(3); S.I. 1999/527, art. 2(b), Sch. 2

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C5Ss. 210-219 applied (E.W.) (1.4.2020) by The Agricultural Wages (Wales) Order 2020 (S.I. 2020/347), arts. 1, 2(3)

C7Ss. 210-219 applied (E.W.) (6.8.2022 with effect from 1.4.2022) by The Agricultural Wages (No. 2) (Wales) Order 2022 (S.I. 2022/794), arts. 1, 2(3)

Marginal Citations

216 Industrial disputes.E+W+S

(1)A week does not count under section 212 if during the week, or any part of the week, the employee takes part in a strike.

(2)The continuity of an employee’s period of employment is not broken by a week which does not count under this Chapter (whether or not by virtue only of subsection (1)) if during the week, or any part of the week, the employee takes part in a strike; and the number of days which, for the purposes of section 211(3), fall within the intervening period is the number of days between the last working day before the strike and the day on which work was resumed.

(3)The continuity of an employee’s period of employment is not broken by a week if during the week, or any part of the week, the employee is absent from work because of a lock-out by the employer; and the number of days which, for the purposes of section 211(3), fall within the intervening period is the number of days between the last working day before the lock-out and the day on which work was resumed.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C5Ss. 210-219 applied (E.W.) (1.4.2020) by The Agricultural Wages (Wales) Order 2020 (S.I. 2020/347), arts. 1, 2(3)

C7Ss. 210-219 applied (E.W.) (6.8.2022 with effect from 1.4.2022) by The Agricultural Wages (No. 2) (Wales) Order 2022 (S.I. 2022/794), arts. 1, 2(3)

217 Reinstatement after military service.E+W+S

(1)If a person who is entitled to apply to his former employer under the M3Reserve Forces (Safeguard of Employment) Act 1985 enters the employment of the employer not later than the end of the six month period mentioned in section 1(4)(b) of that Act, his period of service in the armed forces of the Crown in the circumstances specified in section 1(1) of that Act does not break his continuity of employment.

(2)In the case of such a person the number of days which, for the purposes of section 211(3), fall within the intervening period is the number of days between the last day of his previous period of employment with the employer (or, if there was more than one such period, the last of them) and the first day of the period of employment beginning in the six month period.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C5Ss. 210-219 applied (E.W.) (1.4.2020) by The Agricultural Wages (Wales) Order 2020 (S.I. 2020/347), arts. 1, 2(3)

C7Ss. 210-219 applied (E.W.) (6.8.2022 with effect from 1.4.2022) by The Agricultural Wages (No. 2) (Wales) Order 2022 (S.I. 2022/794), arts. 1, 2(3)

Marginal Citations

218 Change of employer.E+W+S

(1)Subject to the provisions of this section, this Chapter relates only to employment by the one employer.

(2)If a trade or business, or an undertaking (whether or not established by or under an Act), is transferred from one person to another—

(a)the period of employment of an employee in the trade or business or undertaking at the time of the transfer counts as a period of employment with the transferee, and

(b)the transfer does not break the continuity of the period of employment.

(3)If by or under an Act (whether public or local and whether passed before or after this Act) a contract of employment between any body corporate and an employee is modified and some other body corporate is substituted as the employer—

(a)the employee’s period of employment at the time when the modification takes effect counts as a period of employment with the second body corporate, and

(b)the change of employer does not break the continuity of the period of employment.

(4)If on the death of an employer the employee is taken into the employment of the personal representatives or trustees of the deceased—

(a)the employee’s period of employment at the time of the death counts as a period of employment with the employer’s personal representatives or trustees, and

(b)the death does not break the continuity of the period of employment.

(5)If there is a change in the partners, personal representatives or trustees who employ any person—

(a)the employee’s period of employment at the time of the change counts as a period of employment with the partners, personal representatives or trustees after the change, and

(b)the change does not break the continuity of the period of employment.

(6)If an employee of an employer is taken into the employment of another employer who, at the time when the employee enters the second employer’s employment, is an associated employer of the first employer—

(a)the employee’s period of employment at that time counts as a period of employment with the second employer, and

(b)the change of employer does not break the continuity of the period of employment.

(7)If an employee of the [F8governing body] of a school maintained by a [F9local authority] is taken into the employment of the authority or an employee of a [F9local authority] is taken into the employment of the [F10governing body] of a school maintained by the authority—

(a)his period of employment at the time of the change of employer counts as a period of employment with the second employer, and

(b)the change does not break the continuity of the period of employment.

(8)If a person employed in relevant employment by a health service employer is taken into relevant employment by another such employer, his period of employment at the time of the change of employer counts as a period of employment with the second employer and the change does not break the continuity of the period of employment.

(9)For the purposes of subsection (8) employment is relevant employment if it is employment of a description—

(a)in which persons are engaged while undergoing professional training which involves their being employed successively by a number of different health service employers, and

(b)which is specified in an order made by the Secretary of State.

(10)The following are health service employers for the purposes of subsections (8) and (9)—

[F11(za)[F12NHS England],

[F13(zb)an integrated care board established under section 14Z25 of the National Health Service Act 2006,]]

F14(a). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(b)Special Health Authorities established under [F15section 28 of [F16the National Health Service Act 2006] or section 22 of the National Health Service (Wales) Act 2006] ,

F17( bb ). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(c)National Health Service trusts established under [F18[F19the National Health Service Act 2006] or the National Health Service (Wales) Act 2006] ,

[F20(ca)NHS foundation trusts, ]

[F21(cb)Local Health Boards established under section 11 of the National Health Service (Wales) Act 2006,]

[F22(cc)the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence,]

F23(cd). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[F24(ce)the Health Services Safety Investigations Body.]

(d)F25. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(dd)F26...F27...

F27(e). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[F28(11) In subsection (7) “ local authority ” has the meaning given by section 579(1) of the Education Act 1996. ]

Textual Amendments

F8Words in s. 218(7) substituted (1.10.2002 except in relation to W. and otherwise 19.12.2002) by Education Act 2002 (c. 32), s. 215(1), Sch. 21 para. 32 (with ss. 210(8), 214(4)); S.I. 2002/2439, art. 3; S.I. 2002/3185, art. 4, Sch. Pt. 1

F10Words in s. 218(7) substituted (1.10.2002 except in relation to W. and otherwise 19.12.2002) by Education Act 2002 (c. 32), s. 215(1), Sch. 21 para. 32 (with ss. 210(8), 214(4)); S.I. 2002/2439, art. 3; S.I. 2002/3185, art. 4, Sch. Pt. 1

F21S. 218(10)(cb) inserted (1.4.2007) by The References to Health Authorities Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/961), art. 3, Sch. para. 27(4)

F27S. 218(10)(e) and the preceding word "and" repealed (1.4.2005 for E.W.) by Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Act 2003 (c. 43), ss. 190. 196, 199(1)(4), Sch. 13 para. 8, {Sch. 14 Pt. 7}; S.I. 2005/457, art. 2(1)(b)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C5Ss. 210-219 applied (E.W.) (1.4.2020) by The Agricultural Wages (Wales) Order 2020 (S.I. 2020/347), arts. 1, 2(3)

C7Ss. 210-219 applied (E.W.) (6.8.2022 with effect from 1.4.2022) by The Agricultural Wages (No. 2) (Wales) Order 2022 (S.I. 2022/794), arts. 1, 2(3)

C10S. 218(7) extended (temp. from 1.4.1999 to 1.9.1999) by S.I. 1999/638, reg. 4

219 Reinstatement or re-engagement of dismissed employee.E+W+S

(1)Regulations made by the Secretary of State may make provision—

(a)for preserving the continuity of a person’s period of employment for the purposes of this Chapter or for the purposes of this Chapter as applied by or under any other enactment specified in the regulations, or

(b)for modifying or excluding the operation of section 214 subject to the recovery of any such payment as is mentioned in that section,

in cases where F29. . . a dismissed employee is reinstated [F30, re-engaged or otherwise re-employed] by his employer or by a successor or associated employer of that employer [F31in any circumstances prescribed by the regulations.]

F32(2). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F32(3). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F32(4). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

F29Words in s. 219(1) repealed (1.8.1998) by 1998 c. 8, s. 15, Sch. 1 para. 25(2)(a), Sch. 2; S.I. 1998/1658, art. 2(1), Sch. 1

F30Words in s. 219(1) substituted (1.8.1998) by 1998 c. 8, s. 15, Sch. 1 para. 25(2)(b); S.I. 1998/1658, art. 2(1), Sch. 1

F31Words in s. 219(1) inserted (1.8.1998) by 1998 c. 8, s. 15, Sch. 1 para. 25(2)(c); S.I. 1998/1658, art. 2(1), Sch. 1

F32S. 219(2)-(4) repealed (1.8.1998) by 1998 c. 8, s. 15, Sch. 1 para. 25(3), Sch. 2; S.I. 1998/1658, art. 2(1), Sch. 1

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C5Ss. 210-219 applied (E.W.) (1.4.2020) by The Agricultural Wages (Wales) Order 2020 (S.I. 2020/347), arts. 1, 2(3)

C7Ss. 210-219 applied (E.W.) (6.8.2022 with effect from 1.4.2022) by The Agricultural Wages (No. 2) (Wales) Order 2022 (S.I. 2022/794), arts. 1, 2(3)

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