Introduction

On 1st July 2001, part time workers, compensating for nearly 10% of the UK population, were given a boost when a change in legislation meant that they had to be treated as favourably as full time workers. The changes cover pay, training, pensions and holidays.

The cost for businesses to meet these changes is expected to be somewhere near £24 million per year. Additionally, the recurring costs for business will be an extra £27 million per year.

Small business employers do not have any exception and the government did acknowledge the needs of small businesses when changing the employment rights for part time workers suggesting that it would not create a significant impact. Almost half of the part time workers in the UK are employed by small businesses and it has been reported that a majority of these businesses would not be affected due to their current fair employment policies. However, for the small number of small businesses that do employ both full and part time employees with differing benefits, it is time to review the situation.

On 30th June 2002, the legislation was again updated (see next section).

The Part Time Workers Regulations

The Part Time Workers (Prevention of Less Favourable Treatment) Regulations 2000 can be viewed at: www.legislation.hmso.gov.uk/si/si2000/20001551.htm

"The Part-time workers regulations ensure that Britain's 6 million part-timers are not treated less favourably than comparable full-timers in their terms and conditions, unless it is objectively justified. This means part-timers are entitled, for example, to:

• the same hourly rate of pay
• the same access to company pension schemes
• the same entitlements to annual leave and maternity/parental leave on a pro rata basis
• the same entitlement to contractual sick pay
• no less favourable treatment in access to training

In February 2002 the Government published two draft amendments to the Regulations for consultation. These cover Comparators (Regulation 2) and Access to Occupational Pension Scheme (Regulation 8(8))". Source: Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)

These amendments that came into force on 30th June 2002 can be seen at: www.dti.gov.uk/er/fixed/ptime.htm

Further Information

The following links will give you further information concerning part time employment regulations. All links will direct you to the department of Trade and Industry web site and will open in a new window.

• Regulatory Impact Assessment: www.dti.gov.uk/er/ptriasum.htm
• Compliance and Best Practices for Employers and Part Timers: www.dti.gov.uk/er/pt-info.htm
  

Employment Law Quicklinks

Taking on a New Employee

Minimum Wage

Employee Working Hours & Break Entitlement

Sacking, Dismissal & Redundancy

Paid Holiday Entitlement

Flexible Working Hours

Employee Time Off for an Emergency

Employee Sickness

Stakeholder Pension Schemes

National Lottery Syndicates

Monitoring Employees at Work

Employee Notice for Paid Holiday

Part Time Employees

Maternity Leave