How to report serious abuse or exploitation at work
What serious abuse or exploitation at work could mean and how to report it for investigation.
If you think you or someone else is in immediate risk of injury, call 999 and ask for the police.
What is serious abuse at work
You’re being seriously abused or exploited at work if you believe you’re being controlled, threatened or manipulated. This could be an indicator of modern slavery.
Signs of abuse or exploitation can include:
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being threatened with violence or harm
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not being allowed to leave your workplace or accommodation
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not being allowed to speak to other people
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having your passport taken away
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not being allowed to get medical treatment
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being forced to live in accommodation provided by your employer
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being made to stay in unsafe or unsuitable accommodation
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having your wages withheld or being forced to give wages back to your employer
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being forced to work to pay off a debt that keeps increasing
If this does not describe your situation
You can report other problems at work, such as pay, workplace disputes and immigration issues.
Report serious abuse online
Use the online form to tell us if you think you or someone else is being abused or exploited.
Other ways to report
By email
Try to include:
- what the abuse is
- where it’s happening, or happened
- any relevant pictures or documents
- your name and contact details – we’ll only use these to ask you questions about your report, if needed
By phone
0800 432 0804.
Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm (except public holidays). You can still call outside of these hours and leave a voice message.
Calls are free.
We can arrange for an interpreter, if needed
What we’ll do with your report
We’ll look at what you tell us to see what action we can take.
We will not share your details with anyone you tell us about in your report.
If we think that a different organisation can help you, we’ll share your report with them.
How to report other problems at work
Problems with pay
Use the complain about pay and work rights form if the problem is about:
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being forced to work more than 48 hours per week
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not being paid National Minimum wage
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not being paid by an employment agency
Contact the HMRC Statutory Pay Dispute Team if the problem is about:
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holiday pay
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sick pay
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maternity pay
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paternity pay
Bullying, harassment or workplace disputes
Contact Acas for free advice and support about:
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bullying or harassment at work
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unfair dismissal
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workplace disputes
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poor management practices
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disciplinary or grievance issues
Immigration issues
Use the report an Immigration or Border Crime form if the problem is about:
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a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)
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someone working in the UK illegally
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illegal immigration or smuggling
Updates to this page
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Updated the phone number to a dedicated number for reporting serious abuse.
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First published.