By law, employers must provide a 'written statement of employment particulars' to:
- anyone with legal status of employee
- anyone with legal status of worker, unless they started their job before 6 April 2020
A written statement summarises the main terms of employment, such as pay and working hours.
Many people think this document is the employment contract. However legally the contract is much broader than the written statement.
Employers must provide a written statement no matter how long someone is employed for.
Agency workers
Agency workers have the same right to a written statement as other workers and employees.
Find out more about agency workers
Written statement for someone who started their job before 6 April 2020
Employees who started their job before 6 April 2020 can ask their employer for a written statement that meets the new requirements.
They must still be working with the employer or be within 3 months of their leaving date. The employer must provide the written statement that meets the new requirements within 1 month.
Workers do not have the right to a written statement if they started the job before 6 April 2020. They can still ask their employer if they can provide it.
Workers who started a new contract after 6 April 2020 have the right to a written statement.
Find out more about what must be included in a written statement