Employee rights

If you’re serving in the armed forces, your leave, pay and working arrangements are set out in your terms and conditions of service, which you agree to when you join. If you’re working in a civilian role, including as a reservist, veteran, or military family member, your employment contract should set out your pay, working hours, holiday allowance, sick pay, work location and notice period.

Always read your employment contract carefully before signing. Check the essentials. This includes your pay – make sure your salary and any overtime or bonuses are clearly stated. Look closely at your hours and holidays. In civilian employment, if you’re full-time, you’re entitled by law to 28 days’ holiday a year, including bank holidays. Service personnel have annual leave entitlements set by the Ministry of Defence. You can find details of these in your terms and conditions of service. Take note of your notice period so you know what’s expected if you or your employer ends the contract. For service personnel, the process for leaving the armed forces is set out through formal notice procedures. In civilian roles, you have the right to request flexible working from day one of employment. This could mean adjusting your hours or working partly from home, depending on what’s possible in your role.

Flexible working might help lift your earnings by reducing travel or childcare costs. Service personnel can also apply for flexible working arrangements, including Flexible Service and Flexible Leave provisions. These allow changes to working patterns or commitments where operationally possible. The MoD provides guidance to help you understand what options may be available. If something doesn’t look right or you’re unsure about your rights, where you go for support will depend on your situation. If you’re serving personnel, your first step is usually to speak to your chain of command. They can help explain your terms and conditions of service and guide you through the appropriate process. You can also access support through MoD welfare services and armed forces support organisations. If you’re a reservist, veteran, partner, or family member working in a civilian role, you should speak to your line manager or HR team. They can help you understand your employment contract and workplace policies.

If issues remain unresolved, independent advice is available. Organisations such as the Centre for Military Justice, Service Families Federations and Forces Law can provide guidance to members of the armed forces community. For civilian employment matters, you can also contact ACAS, the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service. It’s a free, confidential, government-funded service that helps employees and employers resolve workplace issues. Remember, whether you’re serving, a reservist, a veteran, or a family member, there are people and services available to support you in resolving any concerns.