Work and employment

UK Jobs, Right to Work and Employment Rights

Guide to right to work checks, share codes, job search, UK CVs, interviews, wages, payslips, contracts, holidays, sick pay, exploitation, and work culture.

Plain-English summary

Before work starts, confirm your right to work and visa conditions. Once working, understand pay, contracts, payslips, holiday, discrimination protections, unions, and what to do if an employer exploits you.

Best for: Job seekers, workers, students with work limits, sponsored workers, and people starting self-employment.

What this guide covers

Right to work checks and share codes

Finding jobs through GOV.UK Find a Job, LinkedIn, Indeed, agencies, and job centres

UK CV and cover letter templates

Interview tips and UK work culture

National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage

Payslips, contracts, zero-hour contracts, holiday pay, sick pay, maternity and paternity rights

Discrimination, harassment, exploitation, modern slavery, and trade unions

Health and Care Worker visa problems

Self-employment and starting a small business

Check work permission first

Work permission depends on immigration status. Sponsored workers, students, visitors, asylum seekers, and dependants can have very different rules.

Read your visa conditions before accepting work.
Generate the right to work share code only from GOV.UK.
Keep evidence of the employer check and your contract.
Sponsored workers should check job role, sponsor, salary, and job changes before moving employer.

Important warning

Working outside your conditions can affect future visas, ILR, or citizenship. Get advice before changing jobs if your visa is tied to a sponsor.

Know your workplace basics

UK jobs usually involve a contract or written statement, payslips, tax through PAYE, holiday entitlement, and workplace policies.

Check hourly pay against the current minimum wage for your age and role.
Read the probation period, notice period, hours, location, and overtime rules.
Keep payslips and P60/P45 documents for tax, visa, mortgage, and benefits evidence.
Ask for help if wages are withheld or deductions look wrong.

If an employer exploits you

Workers have rights even when they feel insecure. Serious exploitation, threats, forced work, passport retention, debt bondage, and unsafe conditions need urgent support.

Contact ACAS for employment rights guidance.
Speak to a trade union if you are a member or can join one.
Use Citizens Advice for employment and immigration-linked problems.
Report modern slavery or immediate danger through emergency services or specialist helplines.

Checklist

Use this as a practical planning list, then confirm official rules for your status and local area.

1Check right to work and visa conditions before applying.
2Create a UK-style CV and short cover letter template.
3Prepare interview examples and questions about pay, hours, location, and contract type.
4Check minimum wage, payslip deductions, tax code, and National Insurance number.
5Keep contract, payslips, right to work evidence, and sponsor correspondence.

Trusted starting points

Use official and established advice sources before relying on social media, forums, or paid services.

Prove your right to work

GOV.UK

Official share-code service for right to work.

Find a job

GOV.UK

Government job search service.

Employment advice

Citizens Advice

Guidance on employment rights, pay, contracts, and problems at work.

ACAS

Employment rights guidance and workplace dispute support.

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