ABSTRACT
The activities of employers became subject to increasing regulation in order to provide employees with greater protection in economic and physical terms. Factories legislation is just one example. Most recently the increasing power of trade unions, as distinct from individual work people, caused concern particularly to Conservative governments, with the result that the power of unions has been circumscribed by legislation. A contract of employment is the basis of the working relationship between employer and employee and is subject to the general principles covered by the law of contract. Employment Protection (Consolidation) Act 1978 provides the rights of employees, who work over a certain number of hours, to minimum periods of notice dependent on their length of service, and the Act also requires that employees are given written details of certain conditions of employment. It is always advisable to obtain an employee's permission before attempting to search his or her person or property.
