United Kingdom at a glance
Leave entitlements
| Leave type | Entitlement |
|---|---|
| Paid Annual Leave | 5.6 weeks (28 days including bank holidays) |
| Sick Leave | Up to 28 weeks Statutory Sick Pay (SSP): £123.25/week; from April 2026, day-1 entitlement applies |
| Maternity Leave | Up to 52 weeks; Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) for up to 39 weeks |
| Paternity Leave | 1–2 weeks |
| Parental Leave | 18 weeks unpaid |
Employment conditions
Probation
No statutory maximum length. Employers must include probation conditions and duration in the employment contract.
IR35 / Off-Payroll Working
Companies engaging contractors must assess whether the IR35 rules apply. If the relationship resembles employment, the contractor must be treated as an employee for tax purposes. Remote& can advise on contractor classification.
Employee Rights & Protections
UK workers are entitled to: written employment agreement, personal data protection, union membership, safe workplace, whistleblower protection, anti-discrimination and unfair dismissal protection, and redundancy payment rights.
Payments
End of employment in United Kingdom
A valid and justified reason for dismissal is required. Employees who believe they have been unfairly dismissed can seek mediation (union representative) or bring a claim to an Employment Tribunal.
Notice periods may be statutory minimums or enhanced contractual periods — whichever is greater applies. There is no statutory requirement for severance pay unless statutory redundancy applies (after 2 years of continuous service).
Frequently asked questions
Four routes: run payroll from HQ for short-term arrangements; engage contractors (subject to IR35 rules); set up a UK limited company for direct employment; or use Remote& as Employer of Record. Many growing teams use EOR to hire in the UK before establishing a local entity.