Ask Jan is designed to answer all your questions about your rights at work online. Each of the subheadings below leads to a series of questions and answers on that topic.

If you cannot find the question you want on one of these pages you can use the search engine or submit a question of your own.

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June 2008
March 2008
November 2007
June 2007
April 2007
October 2006
June 2006
September 2005
May 2005
December 2004
July 2004
January 2004
December 2003
November 2003
May 2003
April 2003

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June 2008

Are there any further benefits available to members?

March 2008

What are the current rates of the National Minimum Wage?

November 2007

What are the maximum fines for an employer not complying with the National Minimum Wage?
What is the National Minimum Wage hourly rate?
What do I do if I think I am being paid less than the National Minimum Wage?
What counts as pay in calculating the National Minimum Wage?
Who is not entitled to the National Minimum Wage?
What about charity or voluntary workers?
What about trainees and apprentices?
Who decides what the National Minimum Wage will be?
Who is entitled to the National Minimum Wage?

June 2007

What does it cost to join Usdaw?

April 2007

My scheme is contracted out and they say I do not have a choice. Is this right?
I am divorced, but can I still claim state pension on my ex-husband's NI contributions?
Income Drawdown - what is it?
How soon should contributions deducted by my employer be paid across to the scheme?

October 2006

I don’t have any children, can I claim Tax Credits?

June 2006

What happens to my State Pension if I leave the UK and live overseas?
How can I trace my old employers pension scheme?

September 2005

I am under 18 what hours can I work?
Should first aid be provided in my workplace?
Can my employer make me work alone?
Am I allowed rest breaks? I am supermarket home delivery driver

May 2005

Do any statutory rights apply from my first day at work?

December 2004

Who is classed as a young worker?
Can my employer stop me putting entries into the accident book?
Can I have a seat while I am working?

July 2004

How do I go about setting up 'on site' learning?
Where do we get funding?
How do I get the company on board?
How do I get colleges involved?
How do I become a Union Learning Rep and what training is available?

January 2004

Is there a maximum and minimum working temperature?

December 2003

Where can a worker (over 22) find out if the training they are receiving is accredited?

November 2003

Do employers have to keep records about the National Minimum Wage?
Can workers be paid less during a trial period at the beginning of a new job?
How do you work out whether you are being paid the Minimum Wage?
Are retired people and pensioners eligible for the National Minimum Wage?
Can I communicate in writing with a query about the National Minimum Wage?
What is the National Minimum Wage?
Where can a worker (over 22) find out if the training they are receiving is accredited?
What elements of pay are excluded from the National Minimum Wage calculations?
Are casual, freelance and agency workers covered by the National Minimum Wage?
What if a worker is victimised or dismissed for claiming the National Minimum Wage?
Are small businesses exempt?

May 2003

Can my employer refuse or stop my pay for attending ante-natal classes?
What does the Legal Service offer members?
What is Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) and am I entitled to it?
What is flexible working and how does it operate?
Are there any state benefits available for working parents?
Could I get help to pay my rent, even though I am in employment?
I have a fixed-term contract – am I entitled to the same treatment as permanent staff?
What is Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) and am I entitled to it?
What if I have to take time off work to look after a dependant?
I understand that since having a baby I can work part time – is this correct?
Can my employer keep me on a fixed-term contract?
If my employment ends, am I entitled to any statutory holiday pay?
I want to change my hours to fit around my childcare arrangements – what are my rights?
Might I be able to claim other state benefits as a part-time worker?
If my employer terminates my contract, how much notice do they have to give me?
Do I have rights if I am a part-time worker or a worker with less than 2 years’ service?
If I sign an Opting In Notice do I have to work on Sundays for ever?
What should I do if I am made redundant or dismissed?
Is my employer allowed to change my Contract/Terms and Conditions?
Am I a ‘Protected Shopworker’ under the Sunday Trading Act?
How can I enforce my rights under the Sunday Trading Act?
Are partners entitled to paternity leave?
Am I and/or my partner entitled to adoption leave?
Am I and/or my partner entitled to parental leave?
What should I do if I am dismissed or made redundant?
As a part-time worker, am I entitled to join a company pension scheme?
Am I entitled to have a copy of my Terms and Conditions?
If my employment ends, am I entitled to any statutory holiday pay?
Am I entitled to return to the same job after maternity leave?
Can I be disciplined/dismissed for refusing to sign an Opting In Notice for Sunday work?
Should I have a Contract of Employment?
Do part-time workers get the same rights as full-time workers?
How much Maternity Leave can I take?
What happens if my employer gives me a new contract which covers Sunday working?
Am I entitled to paid holidays?
Can my employer dismisses me or make me redundant during my pregnancy/maternity leave?
Can I take a longer period of maternity leave?
Does my employer need to acknowledge my pregnancy in writing?
Am I entitled to maternity pay?
If my employer terminates my contract, how much notice do they have to give me?
What can I do if my employer will not accept the limits I want to put on Sunday working?
I’ve only a few years to go – aren’t I too old to bother joining a union?
Unions are OK for men, but what have they ever done for women?
On my money how can I afford the subs?
What if I am a ‘Protected Shopworker’ but I want to do Sunday working?
What has the union ever done for me?
I vote Tory, why should I join a union?
What does it cost to join Usdaw?
What if I have signed a contract or agreed to do Sunday work before 26 August 1994?
If I refuse to work on Sunday will I suffer a cut in hours?
The union’s too weak to help me, what is the point in joining?
What is Sata?
If I sign an Opting In Notice do I have to work every Sunday?
What is the Sunday Trading Act?
Is the Legal Service available to my family?
Is there any point in me joining, I’m only a part-timer?
What are the benefits in joining Usdaw?
Why should I join Usdaw when I get the same benefits anyway?
What rights do I have as a ‘Protected Shopworker’ under the Sunday Trading Act?
What does the Legal Service offer members?
What is Usdaw’s Legal Service?
What can Usdaw do for me?
Can my family benefit from Usdaw’s Legal Service?
Can I use Usdaw’s Legal Services to help me if I am being racially harassed?
Should my employer have a policy and procedure on dealing with racial harassment at work?
Can I use the Legal Service if I move house?
If I get a work related disease, am I covered by the Legal Service?
If I am prosecuted in the course of my work, am I covered by the Legal Service?
If I am the victim of a criminal assault, am I covered by the Legal Service?
If I have an accident, am I covered by the Legal Service?
What is Usdaw’s Legal Service?
What is the Race Relations Act?
Do I have the right to representation at a disciplinary hearing?
Does my employer have a legal duty to protect me from racial harassment at work?
How can an Usdaw rep help a member who may be experiencing racial harassment?
What can Usdaw’s Legal Service do for me?
What about other employment problems – am I covered by the Legal Service?
How much Maternity Leave can I take?
What is racial harassment?
Is there anything my employer can do to reduce high temperatures?
Can I take up the free will writing offer from the first day of joining Usdaw?
Can I use the Legal Service for problems not connected with work?

April 2003

Am I and/or my partner entitled to parental leave?
What is flexible working and how does it operate?
How do I claim Tax Credits?
The Tax Credit form looks really complicated, what do I need to fill it in?
As a part-time worker, am I entitled to join a Company Pension Scheme?
Am I entitled to breaks and/or rest periods?
Do I have a right to join a trade union?
Are there any statutory rights which depend on my length of service?
What help can Usdaw provide with personal legal issues?
What does Usdaw’s free Legal Service cover?
How do I get Colleges Involved?
How do I become a Learning Rep
and what Training is Available?

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© 2003 (USDAW) Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers
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