The law on employee well-being
The organization is responsible for the well-being of its employee which they are working on its behalf: the organization is said to have a ‘duty of care’ for its employee. Today, it is becoming commonplace for employee, or ex-employees to take legal action against their ex-employers for breaching their duty of care.
Increasingly, the kind of UK legislation that is related to employee well-being in the result of European directives that have been enacted in the 25 member countries of the European Union, where the bases of the policies are equal treatment for all fairness at work and family friendliness. It is important to bear in mind that much of this legislation is directed at non-work areas, as the area of employment.
Working Time Regulations
Limits on working time
Entitlement to rest breaks
Annual leave
Opting out
Handing the ‘opt out’
Role of the HSE