Sessional employees are temporary, seasonal, or casual workers who do not work based on a formal contract.

Regardless of status, sessional employees are protected by employment and workplace laws. Those rights include salary, leave, safe working conditions, and unionisation.

Right to pay and leave

A sessional worker is entitled to the same hourly wage, company pension, maternity and/or paternity leave, and sick leave as a regular full-time employee.

Sessional workers can not be discriminated against because of their status as seasonal or part-time employees. The sessional worker's right to leave depends on time of service as determined by the company; however, once the requirement is met, the right can not be denied.

Right to workplace safety

Sessional labourers, just as regular full-time employees, are protected against working in substandard and dangerous conditions. The United Kingdom Health and Safety at Work Act of 1974 and the Workplace Health Safety and Welfare Law of 1992 spell out the rights of all employees, including sessional workers.

Right to workers union and training

Sessional workers have the right to form a trade union.

The 1871 Trade Union Act says that a workers association can form a legitimate body, where members could participate in maintaining a good industrial relationship with the employer. Casual workers also claim the right to company training to prepare them for certain duties in the absence of mainstream, front line workers.