UK unemployment is at its lowest rate since the 1970s, yet a recent study from thinktank Resolution Foundation has suggested that out of the 32 million people working in the UK, 1 million may be without full employment rights.
According to the study:
- 1 in 20 workers did not receive their statutory entitlement to 28 days paid holiday. Furthermore, 1 in 6 workers over the age of 65 have reported that they have not been paid for their holiday entitlement.
- 1 in 10 do not receive their legally required pay slip. The study suggested that this is more likely if the worker is under the age of 25 or over the age of 65.
- HMRC has reported a record 200,000 cases of workers not receiving the national minimum wage. Furthermore, the study has suggested that under 25s are twice as likely as anyone else to receive less than the minimum wage.
- The study alleges that hotels and restaurants most frequently fail to provide their workers with full workplace rights. Across the hotel and restaurant industry, 1 in 7 workers said that they did not receive their statutory holiday entitlement, a figure that is 3 times more than the rest of the economy.
Arguably, job security has been a priority for many since the 2008 recession. However, the study from Resolution Foundation suggests that some employers may be capitalising on the shift of priorities from their workforce and a lack of awareness as to their employment rights.