Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom

Related legal acts

Key definition

Employment status definition

What does Employment status mean? In practice, employment status describes how the law classifies a working relationship between an individual and the person or organisation for whom they perform work, to determine legal rights, protections and liabilities. Across the UK (England & Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland) it is shaped by statute and case law and used in employment, tax and social security contexts. The principal UK categories are employee, worker and self‑employed/independent contractor; Northern Ireland broadly mirrors Great Britain. In Ireland, the core distinction is employee versus self‑employed, though some statutes use “worker”. Status is assessed on the reality of the relationship, not contractual...

Determining employment status and engagement models: employees, workers and the self‑employed; zero hours, agency, apprentices, interns, volunteers; tax status, IR35 and PSCs, and low‑income worker protections

Published by a LexisNexis Employment expert

Practice notes

This Practice Note outlines the criteria an Employer may apply when deciding how to engage an individual. It examines the main categories of Employment status—Employee, worker, and the self-employed or independent Contractor—and also addresses employee shareholders, casual staff and those on zero hours arrangements, agency workers, apprentices, interns and volunteers. Employers should identify at the outset which status is intended—employee, worker or self-employed—as each attracts distinct rights and protections. Further, particular considerations arise where the engagement is casual or ‘zero hours’, or involves agency workers, apprentices, interns or volunteers. Employment status also determines how the individual is treated for tax purposes (see Practice Note: Employment status—why it matters). Errors can result in employment tribunal proceedings and exposure to tax liabilities. Ultimately, regardless of the label used, courts and tribunals will prioritise the true substance of the working relationship over the wording of any contract.

Employee, worker, self-employed/independent contractor
Employee shareholders
Casual and ‘zero hours’ workers
Agency workers
Apprentices
Interns and volunteers

Employee or worker

...

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Web page updated on 21/05/2026

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