Dismissal for refusing to do shop work on a Sunday

The Sunday Trading Act 1994 gives shop workers the right not to be dismissed, selected for redundancy or subjected to other detrimental action for refusing or proposing to refuse to work on Sundays. Employees who were in their current employment at the time the Act came into force (August 26 1994) generally have these rights automatically. Employees who subsequently enter into a contractual agreement to do shop work on Sundays, either by formally "opting-in" to Sunday working or by taking up a new job which requires Sunday working, can generally qualify for these rights by "opting-out" of Sunday working, subject to a three month notice period. For further information see the document Sunday shop and betting work: employees rights (PL960) available from Employment Service Jobcentres.

There is no qualifying period of service or age limit for employees who wish to complain that they have been dismissed for these reasons.

Dismissal for refusing to do betting work on a Sunday

The Deregulation and Contracting Out Act 1994 provides betting workers, that is, broadly all employees at licensed betting offices, and those employees at a horse race course or licensed track whose work involves dealing with betting transactions, with similar rights to those provided by the Sunday Trading Act 1994 for shop workers (see above).

For further information see the document Sunday shop and betting work: employees rights (PL960) available from Employment Service Jobcentres.