Rights and Responsibilities

There are many pieces of legislation that exist to protect us from harm as workers and to make sure that everyone is treated fairly.

Select the images for more information.

Health and Safety

The Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 sets out your rights and responsibilities in the workplace. You have the right:

To work in an environment that is safe
To be provided, free of charge, with the equipment that you need to keep you safe at work

For more information on the Health & Safety at Work Act see the links section in Resources.

Policies and procedures

With those rights come responsibilities. Your employer will set down policies and procedures or tell you about the agreed ways to work in ways that are safe for you, those you work with and the people you support. You must work in the ways that you are told by your employer.

If you have concerns about safety in your workplace you must talk to your manager.

Answer: The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) 2016 replaces the Data Protection Act 1998. This covers any information related to a natural person or ‘data subject’ that can be used to directly or indirectly identify the person. It can be anything from a name, a photo, an email address, bank details, posts on social networking websites, medical information, or a computer IP address. It will also introduce ‘digital rights’ for individual citizens.

The GDPR restricts how personal and sensitive information can be used, stored and passed on.

For more information see the links section in Resources.

Confidentiality

Question: Do you know how the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) 2016 protects people’s right to confidentiality?

Select the image to reveal the answer.

Information should only be shared:

For the purpose of providing the best care
When someone gives their permission

The law gives you rights as an employee but also require you to treat individuals’ information responsibly only passing on information in line with your employer’s procedures and when...

Choose two options then click the pencil.

Requested by a familiy member
For the purpose of providing the best care
When someone gives their permission

Working conditions

There are many pieces of legislation that demand that terms and conditions of employment are fair.

For example, the law states that you do not usually have to work more than 48 hours per week, although you may choose to do so. Exactly when you work will depend on your contract.

Legislation also demands that the amount that your employer pays you for your work must meet the National Minimum Wage.

The Equality Act 2010 gives all people in the UK the right to be treated fairly and be afforded equality of opportunity regardless of ‘protected characteristics’ or differences.

There are 9 protected characteristics or groups that are protected under equalities law.

What do you think these may be? think of your answers then click the image.

Under the Equality Act 2010, it’s illegal to discriminate against someone for any of the following reasons:

Age
Race including colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin
Being or becoming a transsexual person
Religion, belief or lack of religion/belief
Being married or in a civil partnership
Sex
Being pregnant or having a child
Sexual orientation
Disability

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