Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom

Key definition

Contract of employment definition

What does Contract of employment mean? A contract of employment is the agreement under which an employee personally performs work for an employer in return for pay and benefits, setting the terms that govern that relationship. In England and Wales and Scotland, it is defined by statute (Employment Rights Act 1996, s.230(2)) as a contract of service or apprenticeship, whether express or implied, oral or in writing; Northern Ireland uses equivalent wording (Employment Rights (Northern Ireland) Order 1996). In Ireland, legislation such as the Terms of Employment (Information) Act 1994 uses the same “contract of service” concept, developed alongside case law. Labels are...

ERA 1999 s 10 right to be accompanied: disciplinary and grievance hearings, companions, Article 6, postponement, time off, claims, territorial scope, Acas Code (Great Britain)

Published by a LexisNexis Employment expert

Practice notes

This Practice Note considers the statutory right to be accompanied under section 10 of the Employment Relations Act 1999 (ERA 1999).

This note outlines the statutory entitlement to be accompanied and explains how and when it operates. It addresses:

Who holds the right and the situations in which it applies
Disciplinary hearings, grievance hearings, and meetings concerning flexible working requests
Eligible companions (a work colleague or a trade union official)
What constitutes a reasonable request to be accompanied
Considerations for disabled workers
The right to a fair trial under Article 6 ECHR
Legal representation (that is, by a lawyer)
The companion’s role, time off for companions, and postponement of hearings
The Acas Code of Practice on Disciplinary and Grievance Procedures

Any worker who is required or invited by their employer to attend a disciplinary or grievance hearing, and who makes a reasonable request, has the right to be accompanied at that hearing. For a general overview of the right to be accompanied, see: Right to be accompanied—overview...

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Web page updated on 21/05/2026

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