Zero Hour Contracts

[spathiphyllum]

They've been spoke about a lot.. I've just seen all the strikes against McDonalds and The Labour party have got behind them.

However, the Labour party have said they will abolish zero hour contracts. Now, i get that zero hour contracts are bad for a hell of a lot of people but some people actually rely on zero hour contracts. For example people who are very ill who don't know if and when they can work, people who go to university but want to stay on the employment rota, people who need flexible hours etc..

Do you or someone you know have any experience whit zero hour contracts ?

Would abolishment of zero hour contracts affect you in a negative way or would you be happy to see the tail end of them?

Anyone on a zero hour contract?

[Muntin]

I once had a look at a zero hours contract. To me the most shocking thing was the stipulation that the employee was not to work for anyone else.

[ummmm]

It was perfect for me when my kids were small. I worked in a hospital and there was plenty of work though. I could have worked 7 days a week. It was worked for me but I can understand why people in other industries get very very frustrated.

I also had a full time worker at home so my hours were never an issue.

[spathiphyllum]

Yes, because you're part of the contract, stating they can call on you at will, but you can't spend your time else where as an employee either! I guess that's half the issue with 0 hours.. If you could get say 10 zero hour contracts you could probably organise yourself well

[spathiphyllum]

Yess umm one of the things i was thinking for 'pro-zero hour' was new mums or mums with young children

[ummmm]

Perfect for me. Working in a hospital the only issue was the hours.

[Hopkirk]

I've worked with one as an occasional part time job. It suited me and there were no restrictions on being available or working elsewhere.

[woofgang]

We used to use them in the NHS for people who wanted to work very variable hours or only for part of the year. Because they stayed on the payroll, they didn't have to do all the faff of statutory training and health interviews as though they were a new member of staff joining us. They did get their refreshers and annual health stuff but didn't have to start from square 1 and could start work and be paid before they had done the training and so on.

[pixie374]

I had one when the children were small. It was ideal for me- it works both ways, they are not obliged to give you a certain number of hours and you are not obliged to work a certain number either. It is very flexible.
In mine, in homecare, it was do understaffed that the idea of getting no hours was laughable. People were more likely to be pressured to do 60+ hours a week.
I can see it wouldn't work for everyone or in every type of business, but choice is always good.

[bainbrig]

Choice? What choice? Cleaners on zero hours/minimum wage - you really think they CHOOSE to live this way?

The only winners are bosses, the only winner is capitalism.

And the loser?

[pixie374]

Some do, bb... as I did. As I said, it won't suit everyone, but I wouldn't expect an employer to promise more hours than they need either.

[woofgang]

bainbrig, thats misuse. Not use. The fact that there are employers around who will misuse something doesn't make the thing itself bad.

[ubasses]

They have their place if used properly and have always been around, in the seventies we called them casual workers. The Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act 2015 means they can have more than one contract and work for other Companies.

[Old_Geezer]

No one relies on zero hour contracts. If someone want random work periods they can join an agency, and not subject the rest of the country to the possibility of having to settle for being abused on a 'call you when we want you' lifestyle