A statement of written particulars (sometimes called a "Section 1 statement" after Section 1 of the Employment Rights Act 1996) is a document that sets out the key terms and conditions of an individual's employment. It is a legal requirement — not an optional piece of admin — and failure to provide one can result in tribunal claims and financial penalties.
Who Is Entitled?
Since 6 April 2020, all workers (not just employees) are entitled to a written statement of particulars. This includes:
- Full-time and part-time employees
- Fixed-term employees
- Agency workers
- Zero-hours workers
When Must It Be Provided?
The statement must be provided on or before the first day of work. Before April 2020, employers had up to two months — this is no longer the case. Some supplementary information (pension details, collective agreements, disciplinary and grievance procedures) can still be provided within two months in a separate document.
What Must It Include?
The day-one statement must contain:
- Employer's name and employee's name
- Date employment began (and continuous employment date if different)
- Job title or description of work
- Pay — rate, frequency, and method
- Hours of work
- Holiday entitlement and holiday pay
- Place of work
- Probationary period details
- Benefits and any non-pay entitlements
- Training entitlements and requirements
Statement vs Contract
A statement of written particulars is not technically the same as an employment contract. The contract exists from the moment the employee accepts the job offer — it includes both express terms (those written down) and implied terms (those understood by custom and practice). The statement is evidence of the key express terms. In practice, most employers combine both into a single employment contract document.
Penalties for Non-Compliance
If an employer fails to provide a statement and the employee brings a successful tribunal claim on any other matter, the tribunal can award an additional two to four weeks' pay as compensation for the failure. This is on top of any other award.
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