Types of worker for minimum wage

The National Minimum Wage Regulations apply to four different types of workers and three different configurations of work.

Time worker

Time workers are paid on a time basis, so they include most workers. It also covers workers who work on standby, zero-hours, and on-call arrangements and those whose work includes 'downtime' or time when they may not be working but when they are expected to be available at their place of work.

Workers paid partly on a time basis (with a basic hourly rate, for example) and partly on piecework or commission basis are also considered to be time workers.

Output workers

Output workers are paid and employed wholly on a piecework or commission basis. There are only a few output workers in the voluntary sector.

Non-hours workers (Unmeasured Work)

Non-hours workers are paid neither by time nor output but who are paid to complete a set of tasks. Examples include certain types of care workers, youth hostel wardens, and pub managers.