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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Have zero hour contacts ever worked for anyone?

56 replies

Electricdreams22 · 02/12/2021 20:57

I don’t know why I thought it would be a good idea, I earn a totally different wage every month with no idea of what I’ll get.
This month, I’ve earned around 25% less than last which is a significant drop.
I had one day off sick so lost around £75 then.
Used to work virtually every day in order to come out with £1700 net, now seen some sense and been firm with them and come out with £1270 net, for an average of 38 hours per week.
Around 30p an hour above minimum wage, so this is why I’m leaving next month.
A colleague has a fractured body part and is still having to come in as she likely can’t afford to live on 3 days of nothing and then SSP.

Has anybody else been on a 0 hours contract?

OP posts:

MondeoFan · 02/12/2021 21:01

I'm on 0 hours. It works for me. I always get regular hours although my workplace aren't obliged to give me any hours as I'm not obliged to take any hours.
It means I can take extra holiday in the summer as I just tell them I'm unavailable to work. This is why I like it. Other jobs you get 4 weeks paid holiday and that's it. No other time off.
I like to take around 7-8 weeks off per year

Original poster

Electricdreams22 · 02/12/2021 21:02

I think they’re ok if your partner has a good income or you don’t have many outgoings, but at £1270 net I could barely afford a one bed flat on my own..

OP posts:

FangsForTheMemory · 02/12/2021 21:02

Unscrupulous employers.

Original poster

Electricdreams22 · 02/12/2021 21:03

That sounds great and I’m glad it works for you.
For some reason I’m only entitled to 28 days per year even though I’m on zero hours, and if I want to change my availability or quit I have to give a month’s notice?

OP posts:

Keepingtheseatwarm · 02/12/2021 21:05

You're doing care work I bet! Impossible to make a full time living even doing full time availability in my experience.

BonnyEm · 02/12/2021 21:06

I used to work zero hour contract in hospitality.
Most weeks I had my regular hours. On the run up to Christmas it was crazy busy and I used to work loads of hours but Jan and Feb hardly any. The rest of the year was pretty consistent. It worked for me as my hours (evening) fitted around dc and dh could look after them while I was at work. They aren't for everyone though. Especially if you're the main/sole earner.

MatildaIThink · 02/12/2021 21:06

They can be good and bad, it depends on the employer. Some employers on them are great, others are awful, for some employees they suit them very well, for others they leave them living on the edge.

Original poster

Electricdreams22 · 02/12/2021 21:07

Yeah, I literally worked 21 days in a row once. Thankfully I’ve seen sense and I’m leaving start of January. It’s such a shame. But there are care jobs out there that offer fixed hours and pay more

OP posts:

BonnyEm · 02/12/2021 21:07

BTW I was on nmw and my tips averaged £10 a week.

De88 · 02/12/2021 21:08

I had a 0 hour contract all the way through Uni, worked really well around the childcare and assignments I had due, kept it while I had a part time and then full time work just for extra pennies, again around childcare.

FluffyBooBoo · 02/12/2021 21:08

Yes they do work for some people - as long as you have a decent employer.

I worked for a place that has zero hour contacts. Many people used them to top up their earnings from other jobs. When they wanted to move to contacted hours, hardly anyone was interested.

Original poster

Electricdreams22 · 02/12/2021 21:09

I didn’t expect to have such a huge fluctuation in salary but that’s my own fault.
Month 1 I earned 1200, then 1850, then 1670, then 1270. But it does seem to be good if you have pretty regular hours each week

OP posts:

Stellaris22 · 02/12/2021 21:09

Only if you have a comfortable backup eg partner.

Original poster

Electricdreams22 · 02/12/2021 21:10

Agree that it can be good as a second job

OP posts:

inmyslippers · 02/12/2021 21:10

Yes I worked in care as bank staff while at uni and could cherry pick my hours. However, there were more hours then staff.
Don't know how id have managed if there ever wasn't any

Lemons1571 · 02/12/2021 21:11

Works really well for my teen. Can’t imagine it would be much good if you had regular bills / obligations like rent utilities childcare etc.

randomsabreuse · 02/12/2021 21:11

Has been fine for me, but I have a partner with a good job that pays everything necessary and I had the mutual flexibility to work when suited me - no 'punishment' for turning down a shift offered.

I viewed it as temping without the middleman agency taking a cut - better for everyone, I got slightly more, the employer paid a lot less, plus I could have a login to do computer tasks rather than just the non-computer tasks.

No use for getting a mortgage/reliable income but fine as a back up job covering busy times.

Newchallenge · 02/12/2021 21:12

Yes, but I have several different 0 hours contracts. So I look for work first at the one that pays most, then the most local, etc. But my household is fairly settled financially and it wouldn't be the end of the world if I couldn't get a shift one day.

Original poster

Electricdreams22 · 02/12/2021 21:12

Do you think lenders would be likely to reject me for a mortgage if a zero hours contact is my primary income ?

OP posts:

AnotherOneWithNoGoodName · 02/12/2021 21:15

I used to work "bank" for the NHS, which was technically a zero hours contract in that you picked your own shifts. But it obviously had much better pay and conditions than most 0 hours, including NHS sick pay and pension etc. Some weeks I would work 0 hours, some weeks 40 and anything in between as I could fit around my life at the time.
This is probably what 0 hours SHOULD be designed for and like, so probably not the best example.
If you need the flexibility, perhaps see if your local NHS hospital has flexible Horus for cleaners/HCA if you can do the job? It's honestly not that bad of a deal, pretty much the same benefits as permanent staff and as many hours as you like.

lilao · 02/12/2021 21:15

It worked for me whilst at uni - it meant I could do different hours depending on my work load and seasonally, so I worked all summer but then less around exam time.

I can't imagine many situations they are suitable but I do think there is a place for them.

Keepingtheseatwarm · 02/12/2021 21:16

@Electricdreams22

I didn’t expect to have such a huge fluctuation in salary but that’s my own fault. Month 1 I earned 1200, then 1850, then 1670, then 1270. But it does seem to be good if you have pretty regular hours each week

Why do you think it's your fault? This is what zero hours jobs are like. I do same job I think, but flexibility and job satisfaction are more important to me (I'm in a fortunate position with a good pension from previous job so I'm part time) I really feel for the people trying to earn full time wages as they have to be available approximately 14 hours a day, even if the work isn't there. It's not made clear when the job is advertised but it becomes very evident once you get your first rotas. I hope you find something more suitable!

DrDreReturns · 02/12/2021 21:16

It was fine when I was a student and it was a part time job. I wouldn't like it now I've got a family to support though.

bingoitsadingo · 02/12/2021 21:29

It worked great for me as a student, I picked up hours when I wanted them in summer and at Christmas without having to apply for a new job, wait to be set up on payroll, think about notice periods, etc

lljkk · 02/12/2021 21:34

I had zero hrs contract & liked it.

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