FAQ: What Is A Zero Hour Contract Of Employment?

What are my rights on a 0 hour contract?

Zero-hours workers are entitled to statutory annual leave and the National Minimum Wage in the same way as regular workers. You cannot do anything to stop a zero-hours worker from getting work elsewhere. The law says they can ignore a clause in their contract if it bans them from: looking for work.

What is a zero hour contract job?

A zero hours contract is a contract between an employer and an individual whereby the worker has no guaranteed hours and is only paid for the work they carry out.

Do zero hour contracts count as employment?

The fact that an individual is said to be engaged on a casual or zero hours contract does not determine their employment status. Under a casual contract, there is commonly no obligation on the employer to offer work to the individual and, crucially, no obligation on the individual to accept work that is offered.

What benefits do you get on a zero hour contract?

The biggest advantage of using zero-hours contracts is flexibility. For any organisation, it is invaluable to be able to respond quickly and effectively to business fluctuations. Engaging people on zero hours contracts allows employers: to deal with an unforeseen event (e.g. to manage a sudden increase in demand)

Can I be furloughed on a 0 hour contract?

Can I furlough zero hours workers? Yes, you can. Any employee can be furloughed as long as their work has been severely affected by covid-19, they are on PAYE and you hired them before 28 February 2020. Employees can be on any type of contract, whether that be zero hours, variable hours, part time or full time.

Can you refuse shifts on a zero hour contract?

The casual nature of the zero hour contract means that you are not obligated to work a minimum number of hours, and you can refuse any work offered without consequence. Needless to say, there is still a risk that if you persistently refuse work your employer may terminate your working arrangement altogether.

What is bad about zero hour contracts?

One of the disadvantages of zero-hour contracts from the perspective of an employee is the issue of workplace benefits. Zero hours employers are not obliged to provide employees with redundancy pay, holiday pay, sick pay, or a pension scheme.

Do you get holidays on zero hour contract?

Like most workers, zero-hours contract employees are legally entitled to 5.6 weeks of paid holiday a year. This means that they’re also legally entitled to a week’s pay for each week of statutory leave they take. Their specific pay and entitlement is calculated based on the number of hours they work.

Do you get sick pay on a zero hour contract?

If you’re on a zero hours contract, you can still get sick pay – you should ask your employer for it. You shouldn’t be made to feel bad about asking for sick pay you’re entitled to. If you think you’ve been treated unfairly, disciplined or dismissed because you asked for sick pay, you might be able to take action.

Can you claim benefits on a zero hour contract?

How a zero-hours contract job can affect your entitlement to Universal Credit. It is possible to claim Universal Credit while working. And unlike some other benefits, there isn’t a limit to the number of hours you can work.

Do you get a P45 on a zero hour contract?

You only get a P45 when you leave an employer, if you are on a zero hours contract and just get work from each company when they offer it to you, you wouldn’t get a P45 each time there was no work to offer.

Do I get redundancy pay on a zero hour contract?

If your employer is working out your average weekly pay, they should base it on the last 12 weeks you actually worked. People on zero-hours contracts might be entitled to redundancy pay – but it can be very complicated to work out, so contact your nearest Citizens Advice for help.