Employment status is becoming increasingly more prevalent in the woekplace. Employers need to know what their responsibilities are in this new environment, and the legal risks involved.

Explore our resources and case law reports for further information into employment status.

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Factsheets

Regularly-updated factsheets provide overviews and information on a topic

One Factsheet about Employment status
Factsheet
Employment status
Understand how being defined in UK law as an employee, a worker or self-employed affects employment rights and employers’ legal responsibilities
For Members

Employment law

Practical resources to help you address employment law issues at work, and keep up with recent and pending legislation.

One Employment law about Employment status
Employment law
Employment status: UK employment law
Explore our collection of resources around legal issues surrounding employees and workers, including Q&As for various types of workers and relevant case law
For Members

Guides

Designed for practitioners, our guides provide recommendations and advice on how to apply good practice in the workplace.

Seven Guides about Employment status
Guide
Agency workers: Understanding the law
Understand what employers need to do to manage agency workers within the law 
Guide
Atypical working: Guidance for employers
Practical guidance to help you identify and implement good atypical working practices
For Members
Guide
Fixed-term contracts: Guide for employers
Understand what employers need to do to manage fixed-term contracts within the law
For Members
Guide
Self-employed contractors: Understanding the law
Understand what employers need to do to manage self-employed contractors within the law
Guide
IR35 implications for in-house HR practitioners
Understand the ramifications of IR35 changes for in-house HR, and the five initial steps you can take to help your employer understand them.
For Members
Guide
IR35 implications for consultants
Whether you use the services of a consultant or are a consultant yourself, you’ll need to understand the ramifications of IR35 – and what you can do about them
For Members
Guide
People manager guide: Employment status
Explanation of the different kinds of employment status so managers can correctly manage people within their teams according to their different contractual terms
For Members

Reports

Research and analysis by experts from CIPD and partner organisations

Three Reports about Employment status
Report
The gig economy: What does it really look like?
A policy report providing latest insights on the scale and nature of the UK’s gig economy
Report
Reforming employment status and strengthening rights
Drawing on policy insight and stakeholder input, the CIPD proposes a new approach to labour market enforcement
Report
Revamping labour market enforcement in the UK
Drawing on policy insight and stakeholder input, the CIPD proposes a new approach to labour market enforcement

Thought leadership

Insight and foresight from our experts in people and the world of work

11 Thought leadership about Employment status
Thought leadership
Analysis | Proposed changes to unfair dismissal rules risk more insecure work
Meaningful consultation is needed to ensure the Employment Rights Bill delivers intended outcomes, says Ben Willmott, CIPD Head of Public Policy
Thought leadership
The true story of the UK gig economy
James Cockett discusses the key findings and insights from our report on the UK gig economy
Thought leadership
Has work become less secure?
Examining the evidence on employment security
Thought leadership
IR35 so far - What's the story?
Where are we now with IR35? Charles Cotton’s article discusses this question, including the implications on the economy and the HR profession
Thought leadership
Uber ruling highlights ongoing confusion over employment status
Ben Willmott discusses why the CIPD believes abolishing worker status is key to effective reform of legal framework
Thought leadership
Rishi turns up the volume on employment of young people
Mark Beatson’s article focuses on how the COVID-19 inspired recession has affected employment, especially for young people
Thought leadership
Is there a case to abolish ‘worker’ status?
Ben Willmott considers the future of employment status and the options for reform
Thought leadership
How do organisations create ‘good work’ for atypical workers?
Ben Willmott discusses new CIPD guidance on managing an atypical workforce and invites readers to share their experiences to shape guide
Thought leadership
The growing gig economy
Ben Willmott discusses recent CIPD research that gives the first robust estimate of the number of people working in this growing area of the economy
Thought leadership
To gig or not to gig? Stories from the modern economy
Explores the experiences of people engaged in the gig economy and their views on what it is like to work in this way
Thought leadership
How should we respond to the gig economy?
Associate Adviser, Mike Emmott, explores the disparity between perceptions of employee security between people working in the gig economy and those on zero hour contracts

Bitesize research

Your regular overview of current research, inspiring insights and cutting-edge ideas in bitesize

Six Bitesize research about Employment status
Bitesize research
The pressures on female early-career academics
A look at the pressures placed on female academics by the nature of employment contracts.
For Members
Bitesize research
COVID-19 and the self-employed
The experiences, challenges and future expectations of the self-employed
For Members
Bitesize research
A typology of gig workers
Defining different types of gig worker
For Members
Bitesize research
The gig economy: an employee perspective
Discover the employee perspective of the gig economy
For Members
Bitesize research
Comparing employment and self-employment
Find out the effects of self-employment on wellbeing
For Members
Bitesize research
A fair deal for agency temps?
This article maps key developments in agency work, from the perspectives of both regulation, client-supplier relationships, people management and performance
For Members

CIPD Viewpoints

Our collected point of view on the key issues impacting work, from the perspective of employers and policy makers.

One CIPD Viewpoint about Employment status
CIPD Viewpoint
Employment status, rights and regulation
Explore the CIPD’s point of view on employment status, rights and regulation, including recommendations for employers and actions for the UK Government

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