Employment
Understanding your written statement of employment particulars
What the written statement of terms is, when it must normally be provided, and the kinds of information it usually sets out.
Published 14 January 2026 · Last updated 14 January 2026
What the document is
Most employees and workers in the UK are entitled to a written statement setting out the main terms of their engagement. It is not the same thing as a full employment contract, although the two are often combined into one document.
The statement is a useful starting point when you are trying to understand pay, hours, holiday, notice and the workplace policies that apply to you, because it tells you which documents to look for next.
What it usually covers
Published government guidance describes the categories of information a statement normally includes: who the employer is, when the work started, pay and how often it is paid, working hours, holiday entitlement, sick pay arrangements, notice periods, the job title or description, the place of work and any probation period.
Where a term is not written down anywhere, that does not automatically mean it does not exist — some terms come from law, and some from what has actually happened in practice over time.
How to read it alongside workplace policies
Disciplinary and grievance procedures are often kept in a separate handbook rather than in the statement itself. If your statement refers to a policy by name, ask for a copy of that policy so you can read the process that is being applied.
This article does not tell you whether your own terms have been met or breached. If that is the question you need answered, it is a question for an appropriately authorised professional.
Official sources and further reading
This article provides general information only and does not constitute legal advice.
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