Essential points

  • The rights someone has at work – for example, whether they are entitled to redundancy pay or are protected against unfair dismissal – are dependent on whether they are an employee, a worker or self-employed.

  • Employment status is not defined clearly in law and the definitions used for tax purposes are different to those used for employment rights.

  • The growth in the gig economy has given rise to many claims for the rights of ‘workers’, such as the right to receive the National Minimum Wage and paid holidays, from gig workers who have been defined by the organisations they work for as ‘self-employed’.

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Disclaimer 

​Please note: While every care has been taken in compiling this content, CIPD cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions. These notes are not intended to be a substitute for specific legal advice. 

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