UCL Study Finds 5.4 Million UK Workers Suffered Rights Breaches in 2 Years
Updated
Updated · People Management Magazine · May 11
UCL Study Finds 5.4 Million UK Workers Suffered Rights Breaches in 2 Years
3 articles · Updated · People Management Magazine · May 11
At least 5.4 million UK workers—14% of the workforce—faced a clear breach of basic employment rights in the past two years, according to a UCL-led study published by the Fair Work Agency.
More than a quarter of precarious workers were affected, and the study identified underpayment below the minimum wage, illicit work-finding fees, and missing payslips, contracts or key information documents as key violations.
The report also found 26.6 million to 28.7 million people, about 70% of workers, experienced harmful workplace practices, with negative mental health impacts affecting 37.5% and unpaid overtime hitting 31.8%.
Minimum-wage underpayment affected 6.1% of all workers and 14.9% of precarious workers, with regular workers losing £1,217 a year on average; interviews linked abuses to understaffing, business pressure and weak awareness of rights.
The findings land just after the Fair Work Agency was created in April to unify enforcement, with powers to inspect, investigate and eventually fine employers, as researchers urged more proactive monitoring and safer reporting channels.
As UK labour laws get tougher, how can businesses avoid crippling fines for unintentional compliance mistakes?
Tasked with protecting workers and cutting red tape, can the UK's new Fair Work Agency truly serve two masters?
One in Five UK Workers Face Rights Breaches: UCL Study Spurs Major Reforms and Launch of Fair Work Agency
Overview
A major UCL study published in 2026 uncovered that employment rights breaches are widespread across the UK workforce, with one in five workers—about 6.8 million people—experiencing serious violations like unpaid wages, denial of holiday pay, unfair dismissal, discrimination, and unsafe conditions between 2023 and 2025. The problem is especially severe for those in precarious jobs, such as gig workers, who face higher risks. Many also work unpaid overtime, are underpaid below the legal minimum wage, or lack essential sick pay. These breaches not only harm workers financially but also negatively impact their mental health and well-being.