According to the recently published 2008 Fair Treatment at Work Survey (FTWS), more than three quarters of workers claim they feel well informed about their employment rights. The figure has risen by 13% since the last survey.

The survey also shows that problems with specific employment rights have fallen, and that more people are prepared to seek out information and advice on any problems that do arise. Problems related to pay and working time (including annual leave) have reduced by more than half since 2005.

Other key findings of the survey were:

• 85% of workers felt they knew where to find information on their rights, compared to 76% in 2005.
• 27% of the working population were affected by specific employment problems, down from 41% in 2005.
• A significantly higher proportion of people with employment problems were prepared to seek information or advice about it - up from 53% in 2005 to 72% in the latest survey.

The Government is currently in year two of a three-year campaign to raise awareness of the rights employees have in their workplace. In its first year, the campaign targeted agency workers, which led to a 300% increase in calls to the Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate helpline, on issues such as workplace bullying and sexual harassment. The next stage of the campaign is to be announced next month.

Lord Young, the Minister for Employment Relations, commented: “The results of the Fair Treatment at Work Survey are very positive. They show the real progress we have made in raising awareness of workplace rights amongst employees and employers.

“But whilst these are good results, there are a number of vulnerable groups who are still more likely to have problems at work and be less aware and knowledgeable about their rights than the general population. That is why the Government will be announcing further help for vulnerable workers later this month.”

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