Zero hours contract?

[BeerHunter]

Is it a really bad idea to take a job role that is on a zero hours contract?

The job advert states that you need to be able to commit to 12 hours a week. I don't really understand how that works!

[superbagpuss]

my dh is on a zero hours contract but he has a few regular shifts, they are not the best hours though

[BeerHunter]

Anyone been on one? Was it a good or bad experience?

[sleepyhead]

Depends. Is it a fixed 12 hours, or could it be any 12 hours in the week?

How much notice will you get of your shifts? Will you need to drop everything to go into work? Will it stop you making any advance plans in your personal life? Will you need childcare and how will that work?

Sometimes it's just used as a way to get round employment rights (eg, you may well get 12 hours regular work for as long as you want and it would be no different from a 12 hour per week contract, but if they didn't need you any more then they could just reduce your hours to zero without having to dismiss you or make you redundant.)