Although traditionally women have represented the majority of part-time workers in the UK, there are large groups of other workers who for a variety of reasons only work part-time. Whatever your reasons for working part-time, it is important that you have all the facts you need about how part-time work could affect your pension.

Even though you may only be working part-time it is important that you consider your pension and seek professional advice as and when you may require it. In and amongst this consideration about your pension you need to bear in mind that even though you are only working part-time you are still entitled to the same pension rights as a full-time worker.

Traditionally workers simply did not have rights, let alone pension rights. However, as time has gone by the social attitudes have brought about a change in legislation as regards workers? rights. It has taken a while for these worker's rights to be passed over to those working part-time as well as the full timers but the law is certainly now more behind the rights of all workers than ever before. In the past, many part-timers missed out on the company pension scheme or they would not receive the employer's part of the contribution to their pension.

The most significant change to part-time workers and their pension rights occurred in the UK in 2001 when the House of Lords ruled that part-time workers who could justifiably claim they had been discriminated against could make claims for pension rights dating back to 1976. These regulations were put in place to ensure that part-timers have exactly the same working rights and conditions as full-time workers. It is thought that the legislation has affected part-time workers within the education and health sectors the most. As many part-time workers are women (as the primary carer of their family unit) these regulations might also correspond to the sexual discrimination regulations and you should mention this to any professional you seek advice from.

This means that if you do not have access to the company pension and your colleagues working full-time do, then you could be entitled to a considerable pay-out from your company. In order to make the claim for the lost pension pay you have to have been working for the company for at least six months. If you are a part-time worker and you believe that this pension discrimination may apply to you, then you would be well-advised to seek professional advice from a financial adviser.