Types of employment status - Employment status (2024)

Types of employment status

'Employment status' is someone's legal status at work. It affects what employment rights they're entitled to and their employer's responsibilities.

There are 3 main types of employment status:

  • employee
  • worker
  • self-employed

Someone's employment status is based on:

  • their employment contract or 'written statement of employment particulars'
  • what was agreed when they were offered the job
  • the way the organisation and the individual work together

How to work out employment status

To help work out someone's employment status, check if their work situation suggests they are:

It can also be helpful to check:

When employment status might not be clear

In some circ*mstances, it might not be clear whether someone is legally classed as an employee or worker. It's particularly important to work out their employment status.

For example, if they're:

  • zero-hours staff
  • bank staff
  • working in the 'gig economy' – for example working through online platforms
  • on a work experience placement or internship
  • on a fixed-term or rolling contract
  • a piece worker – when someone is paid for each piece of work they do
  • peripatetic – someone who has no fixed workplace or works in different locations
  • an employee shareholder
  • a locum

Agency workers

An agency worker could be an employee, worker or self-employed.

Find out more about employment rights as an agency worker

Employment status for tax purposes

Employment status for tax purposes is different from employment status for employment rights purposes.

To check if someone is employed or self-employed for tax purposes, use HMRC's Check Employment Status for Tax Tool.

Directors, office holders and volunteers

Company directors, office holders and volunteers do not have the same rights as employees and workers.

Find more information on GOV.UK about:

Get more advice and support

If you have any questions about employment status, contact the Acas helpline.

You can also read GOV.UK guidance on employment status and employment rights.

Last reviewed

Types of employment status - Employment status (2024)

FAQs

What is your employment status? ›

'Employment status' is someone's legal status at work. It affects what employment rights they're entitled to and their employer's responsibilities.

What do you put as employment status? ›

Employment status examples include full-time, part-time, and temporary employment. For example, if a U.S. employee is hired to work 40 hours a week, their employment status is full-time. If a worker is hired with varying hours under 40 hours a week, their employment status is part-time.

What is an employment classification? ›

Employee classifications are categorizations of employees based on their job duties, responsibilities, and compensation, and they are used by employers to maintain compliance with labor laws.

How do you answer what is your current employment status? ›

If you are currently employed, then simply answer yes. You don't have to say anything else. If no, then you can say something to justify your reason for not having a job. But make sure it is a good reason.

What are the three categories of work? ›

There are three kinds of work you do a regular basis.
  • First, there's work that gets immediate results. ...
  • Second, there's work that should be done by someone else. ...
  • Third, there's the work that contributes to long-term growth.

When am I officially employed? ›

Typically, when you get the job offer letter, accept and sign, and kick off the onboarding process, you're hired for the position. However, it's important to understand that many jobs have a probationary period of 1-3 months.

What does student mean as employment status? ›

Student employment means having a full or part-time job while going to college as a full-time student. A full-time student usually carries at least 12 credit hours per semester. A student working a job while attending school is a student employee.

What does employment mean on application? ›

Employment means any occupation, vocation or employment, or any form of vocational or educational training. Provided, however, that "employment" shall not, for the purposes of this article, include membership in any law enforcement agency.

What is the meaning of pre employment status? ›

the period of testing, processing, etc., before the start of employment.

Who is your employer if you are self employed? ›

A self-employed person isn't tied to a specific employer. They more or less decide when they'll work and when they won't. As such, a self-employed person is their own boss, which comes with certain tax liabilities.

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