To think zero hour contracts should be banned

[Pamplemousecat]

In my view they are useful and lucrative only to the employers. Though they profess to offer flexibility for employees , the vast majority suffer poverty due to unpredictability of hours and wages. They are a way of creating modern day slaves.

@TrainspottingWelsh I think that's a little uncalled for. I have been that person in deprivation, it was hell, but there will always be people in deprivation regardless of the contracts or jobs available. I completely agree that there needs to be a change, but I don't think that zero hours contracts should be abolished altogether as they do work for many, many people. There needs to be a shift for lower paid workers, who are statistically more likely to be on zero hours, to ensure that more permanent positions are available. There needs to be a balance that will offer something to suit all members of society.

Feel free to check with HQ if I am genuine . I do name change every so often but I am real!

There is a place - as others have mentioned NHS bank work is essentially a zero hour contract

I worked it as a student - not having a set number of hours did mean I could not work any in the run up to an exam or do extra if I had extra days off

As a qualified staff I also have a bank contract as well as my full time - I prefer it to being paid overtime - I get the money sooner (overtime takes about 2 months to get paid, bank less than 2 weeks), certain shifts you earn the same on bank as overtime, others you get more, others you get less. I also accrue annual leave on bank hours but not on overtime hours

If I was relying on it as my sole income I wouldn't like it - but I don't think they are automatically evil

No! YABVVU. If used well they can be great for flexibility round childcare for shift workers

Not many childcare providers offer situations where you can tell them week to week what you need. Much easier to have a fixed arrangement!

Zero hour contracts may work for students but the majority of people on them are not. Why can employers work out what they are likely to need and schedule employers based on how many contract hours they have a month. Then allow where possible workers to swap shifts if they are scheduled a particular day.
This worked fine for years. Employers are now simply greedy and lazy.

• DisorganisedOrganiser gamer but it depends how they are used*

Very true I said as much up thread. They only work where there are lots of hours going and the employee is always free to say no without fear of reprisals in the form of having no more hours offered.

I worked for a hotel years ago and most of the staff were on them. Most of the staff were students and it benefited us (we got as many shifts as humanly possible during the summer then buggered of when we were back at uni, I did this for about 3 years) it also benefited the hotel, ultimately we all knew what we were getting into.

I also worked for another company (think leisure type activity) and the number of staff we needed depended on bookings, the company couldn't manage with people on a fixed contract so we used zero hours. Most people were those who wanted second jobs etc.

If your using it as a main job and your reliant upon 30 hrs + it can go wrong, however for companies it can save cash and keep a business viable.

I think they will become more prevalent in the next 5-10 years. They benefit companies who do seasonal work and those who have high turnover of staff; factories, restaurants etc.

I love my two zero-hour contracts. I can work flexibly around school hours, and don't feel guilty about turning down shifts as there is a bank of other staff to call on.
I didn't work at all over the summer holidays but then picked loads of work up again when the schools went back.
It wouldn't work if I was the sole earner, but as a way of bringing in extra money without needing to pay for childcare then it's great.

The NHS couldn't run without Bank staff ,which are essentially zero hour workers
If you're more than two years on the bank though you get the same employment rights as permanent staff. NHS bank staff also accrue sick and holiday pay.

I think looking at the responses that zero hour contracts shouldn't be banned but should be regulated to ensure they are only used when:
a) There are enough hours to go around without leaving staff with no work
b) Staff are free to say no without fear of punishment
c) Sick pay and holiday pay can be accrued based on hours worked

That would be the ideal I agree gamer

If it’s not enough to live on then people are free to find something else that better suits the hours they need. In practice they're not. With the best will in the world (big assumption) a manager is going to phone first the person most likely to come in at short notice, so a zero hour contract (or even a, say, 20 hour contract" comes with an implied "24 hour on call".

@gamerwidow yes that’s the exact type of regulation required.

Great for flexibility around childcare.

On what planet, because it’s certainly not this one. When my nephew went to day nursery my sister had to tell them they exact days and isn’t allowed to change them.
You can’t just drop them at Nursery or to childminder whenever the phone rings. They need to know exact numbers

Ok, I should have been much clearer about the childcare thing. What I meant is my DH works shifts so I can see when he is free to have the kids and work then. In my field the general work pattern is 24/7 shifts with no pattern and very limited ability to request what you want. Doesn’t work for childcare AT ALL. At least this way DH could have them.

I realise that is not the case for anyone.

How many people for whom the 0 hours job works wonderfully, are using it as the main source of income or only source of income?

If it's what you choose,it works around your lifestyle and it's a top up then of course it seems great.

The issue is when they're the only thing available and the main source of income for a family.

I loved it as a student. Now I freelance so I still get some flexibility.
Doesn't work for everyone but I wouldnt have been able to work at all whilst at uni if I had set hours, due to the way my course worked.

Agree stocks. I think probably the demographic on here who are working zero hours aren’t the main breadwinner so there’s not the same urgency perhaps. Seems more like top ups

There also seems to be a presumption that the workers can universally choose their hours. It's not always the case .

Yes I think what people are saying is as an option they are great and can be extremely beneficial and the difference between being able to work or not.

If they are the only option particularly if you are the main or only breadwinner then they can be awful.

Maybe employers offering zero hours contracts should be forced to pay a higher rate per hour than the standard minimum wage to compensate for the lack of sick pay/holiday pay and the inherent uncertainty.

Having been a manager to those who have zero hour contract and had that contract myself. They work for those who don't have to worry about a mortgage and dependents.... I'd have been happy with those contracts when at uni. But having one in my 30s meant I felt I was being constantly watched and I would lose my job at any time. I'd feel immense stress if I had one now with two kids.

Plus the government are using zero hour contracts to make out there's less unemployment. Bastards!

YABU. DS2 couldn't have worked round his degree without a zero hours contract.

His ex employer, Wetherspoons, was bloody brilliant when he was at university and needed flexibility round ward placements, time to do essays, revision and exams etc. Had they have said "you must do x hours on y days" DS2 wouldn't have been able to have worked anywhere because a nursing degree wouldn't have allowed it.

One box doesn't fit all.

@DisorganisedOrganiser you've said it much better than me.

Thanks StockTake. I’m not usually so eloquent!

I quite like my zero hours contract, but it is right for the job I do. It's not my main job and I don't have to feel bad about not being able to work when they need me as there is plenty of cover.

I agree they are no good when you need regular hours and it's your only source of income.