Restrictions

Covered in this topic:

  • Can my employer prevent me from becoming a member of a trade union?
  • Can my employer prevent me from standing for election to a local council?
  • Can my employer prevent me from working for a competitor after I leave?
  • Can my employer prevent me from speaking to my ex-colleagues when I leave?
  • If I invent something at work, can I claim ownership?
  • If I invent something in my own time, does my employer have a claim on its ownership?
  • I am leaving my job but my employer refuses to give me a satisfactory reference. What should I do?
  • I suspect my last employer has given me a bad reference. How can I find out what is in it?
  • My employer is offering a bonus to staff to give up our right to have our pay collectively bargained by the union. Can they do this?

Your contract may legally contain terms which put you under certain restrictions, such as preventing you from working for a competitor for a certain amount of time after you have ended your employment.

In other areas, such as trade union membership, the law does not allow your employer to restrict your behaviour.