I work for an American company. They have American policies and procedures which don't seem to fit Britain. How do I know which rules and procedures apply to me?
This is a common problem with overseas companies and, in particular, American employers. There are fewer detailed employment laws in the US so Americans tend to have elaborate policy statements, which they often try to apply in other countries.
But if there are conflicts between your employer's rules and British law, British law wins. For instance, some American employers might have maternity-leave policies that are less generous than our own. These would not apply in Britain if they were more restrictive than the UK statutory minimum.
Disciplinary procedure is another area where you could find your employers' rules are tougher than UK law. In some areas, however, you could find that American policies give you more protection. For instance, there are already age discrimination laws in the US, so if this is written into your company's policies you could rely on it. In Britain these are due to be in place only by October 2006.
The area American employers are really concerned about is 'business conduct' - ethics, reducing the potential for bribery, hospitality and that sort of issue. Since American companies can be sued in the US for any transgression anywhere in the world, they do enforce these rules. So if they have detailed rules - saying, for instance, that employees must disclose any business dealings they have with friends or family, you would be wise to follow them to the letter.
You might need to read your contract carefully and compare it to British law to see what your rights actually are. You can get information online from, for instance, www.workSMART.org.uk and www.humanandlegal.com. The book Your Rights at Work (Kogan Page, £9.99) is helpful (from bookshops or call 01903 828800).
· Legal advice from Human and Legal Resources. If you have a work problem, write to Neasa MacErlean at Cash, The Observer, 119 Farringdon Road, London EC1R 3ER
