Zero Hours Contracts.

I read in today's paper that it is estimated that about 1 million people are employed on a zero hours contract - meaning that they are employed just as and when required with no guaranteed wages, no sick pay and no holiday pay. This is harping back to the 1930s when dockers were employed like this. I think it's time this was banned, what do you think ?

Re: Zero Hours Contracts.

BIB: that's what popped into my head when I read about this.

I agree - it is time it was stopped and while they're at it, they can stop the minimum wage becoming the standard wage for many people. I get the point that wages/salaries need to be driven down to make us more competitive with the rest of the world but the rest of our economy needs to reflect that fall in income. Offering zero hours is ridiculous - it will just lead to more and more people getting into financial difficulties and, I daresay, a rise in the suicide rate.

Re: Zero Hours Contracts.

I fully concur too!!!


This bloody Tory/ConDem Government are playing 'beggar my neighbour' with our economy and driving us all steadily into poverty, whilst they increase their profits by paying less and less tax or avoiding it altogether - despicable!!!

Re: Zero Hours Contracts.

Couldn't agree more with everyone in this thread.

My husband is paid a flat salary. This year it has meant his wages have dipped below NMW as they have increased his hours and still pay the same wages.

There are several ways employers are sneakily getting away with paying less.

Re: Zero Hours Contracts.

Not all Zero Hours contracts are a bad thing. It can enable a person who can't commit to permanent hours to do some work.

I would say 'bank working' falls into the category of Zero Hours contracts. Places like nursing homes survive with the use of 'bank workers', they have to be fully staffed at all times and 'the bank' enables them to have a list of prospective auxiliary nurses who can go in at short notice to cover for staff sickness and time off.

They could have a list of people who have no fixed hours and are paid a retainer but this would be a very expensive option putting up the cost of care.

I found Zero hours contracts invaluable.
My last 'proper job' in a boarding school had a number of set hours each week and in addition to these I had the opportunity to work extra hours covering staff time off. I was free for most of the school holidays.
I also did flexible voluntary work.
This meant I had some spare working time so I signed up with a Nursing Agency 'bank' working nights as and when I was availible . I was offered work and if I wasn't free I could turn it down, I had a 'no hours contract'.

As a widowed mother this kind of flexible working enabled me save up to help fund my son through university.
It provides many people with the chance to supplement a low income .

Re: Zero Hours Contracts.

You have a valid point there Meg but volunteering to work under those conditions and being forced to do so are different circumstances.

Re: Zero Hours Contracts.

Not sure where 'volunteering' comes into Alan
I met many women like myself who were single and struggling to bring up children on low paid work and supplemented their income with bank working.

Get rid of the Zero Hours contracts and the care industry will collapse.

Re: Zero Hours Contracts.

Supplementing income is also different than relying entirely on a zero hours contract I would imagine.

Re: Zero Hours Contracts.

Surely the zero hours contract also works the other way too: the employer can just tell you they don't need you until further notice; not sure how people can benefit with no income from that policy to be honest.

Re: Zero Hours Contracts.

Julie I could no doubt have sat at home claiming lots of benefits instead of working for a low wage and supplementing my income with bank work , I am sure I would have had a bigger income that way. I prefered to support myself and my son in any way I could , if that meant working night and day which I did that was ok by me.