Equality and Human Rights Commission

The main laws that protect your rights as a part-time worker are:

• The Sex Discrimination Act
• The Part Time Workers Regulations

Sex Discrimination Act

The Sex Discrimination Act (Sex Discrimination Act) makes it unlawful for employers to treat women or men less favourably because of their sex.

Part Time Workers Regulations

The Regulations make it unlawful for employers to treat part-timers less favourably than comparable full-timers. The Regulations apply to all part time workers and the core provisions include:

• the right not to be treated less favourably by an employer than comparable full time workers. This includes both the terms of the contracts of employment and any other detriment by other acts of the employer.
• the right to receive pay and job benefits pro rata to those received by comparable full-time workers.
• the right to receive a written statement of reasons for less favourable treatment.
• protection from dismissal for claiming rights under the Part Time Workers Regulations.

Who is covered?

The Regulations cover a wide range of workers including employees under a specific contract of employment, casual workers and some self-employed people.