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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be fed up with zero hours contract

28 replies

abitmoreclarity · 23/10/2022 14:19

I work in a shop at weekends (National chain) on a zero hours contract.

I was booked to go into work yesterday but then got sent home after an hour as they weren't busy. I obviously only now het an hour's salary.

This isn't the first time it's happened to me. It's been inferred that the reason I get sent home rather then anyone else is because I only live around the corner whilst others have had to travel to get to work, so it easier for me.

Is this fair?

I still need a salary.

I'd also turned down plans for today as I was due to work.

Is it time to change jobs?

OP posts:
balalake · 23/10/2022 14:20

I do not consider it fair, and would like zero hours contracts illegal in a number of areas if not all, including retail.

Definitely time to change jobs. Hope you are successful in doing so, and when you leave, please make it clear why.

YellowTreeHouse · 23/10/2022 14:22

You do realise you don’t have to go home, right?

They can present it as having to send
you home and having no choice, but you don’t have to go. Regardless of contract, if you have been scheduled a shift you are entitled to work it.

So just don’t go home.

Original poster
abitmoreclarity · 23/10/2022 14:23

YellowTreeHouse · 23/10/2022 14:22

You do realise you don’t have to go home, right?

They can present it as having to send
you home and having no choice, but you don’t have to go. Regardless of contract, if you have been scheduled a shift you are entitled to work it.

So just don’t go home.

I wasn't aware of that!

OP posts:
Applesandcarrots · 23/10/2022 14:25

You are fed up of your workplace, not the contract. While it's unfair, it's logocal for them. Just say no, it's someone else's turn.

I, and most people around me, were fine on 0 hour ones. Actually worked for us.

Applesandcarrots · 23/10/2022 14:26

I remember it was standard to pay for 4 hours if staff had to be sent houme earlier than that. After 4 hoirs anything went

YellowTreeHouse · 23/10/2022 14:26

Yeah, they will present it as you having to go home, but they really can’t make you.

I’m a manager in an industry with hourly paid staff. During quiet periods we will offer staff the opportunity to go home if they want to, but we always make it clear they don’t have to.

Keyansier · 23/10/2022 14:27

YellowTreeHouse · 23/10/2022 14:22

You do realise you don’t have to go home, right?

They can present it as having to send
you home and having no choice, but you don’t have to go. Regardless of contract, if you have been scheduled a shift you are entitled to work it.

So just don’t go home.

What? Is that right?

Someone with more legal expertise will hopefully come on this thread to clarify, but are you saying that in a zero hour contract, you can refuse to go home and force your employer to keep you in work and pay you?

lentilly · 23/10/2022 14:28

Have you raised this with them? They are taking the piss just because you live nearby

YellowTreeHouse · 23/10/2022 14:30

Keyansier · 23/10/2022 14:27

What? Is that right?

Someone with more legal expertise will hopefully come on this thread to clarify, but are you saying that in a zero hour contract, you can refuse to go home and force your employer to keep you in work and pay you?

Show quote history

If you are scheduled a shift you are entitled to work it. They can ask you to go home, but you don’t have to.

Of course if you say no and they are a poor employer they may reduce your shifts overall so it doesn’t happen in future.

luckylavender · 23/10/2022 14:30

YellowTreeHouse · 23/10/2022 14:22

You do realise you don’t have to go home, right?

They can present it as having to send
you home and having no choice, but you don’t have to go. Regardless of contract, if you have been scheduled a shift you are entitled to work it.

So just don’t go home.

Are you sure about that?

Original poster
abitmoreclarity · 23/10/2022 14:32

Applesandcarrots · 23/10/2022 14:25

You are fed up of your workplace, not the contract. While it's unfair, it's logocal for them. Just say no, it's someone else's turn.

I, and most people around me, were fine on 0 hour ones. Actually worked for us.

No I'm not fed up with my workplace as such as I enjoy working there.

My colleagues and I don't like zero hours contracts as it's difficult to make plans and then there isn't always much work.

I'd much prefer it if I was working, say. 9am to 6pm every Saturday.

OP posts:
Unanananana · 23/10/2022 14:34

YellowTreeHouse · 23/10/2022 14:22

You do realise you don’t have to go home, right?

They can present it as having to send
you home and having no choice, but you don’t have to go. Regardless of contract, if you have been scheduled a shift you are entitled to work it.

So just don’t go home.

I'm not sure thats correct.

All the companies I have worked in, zero hours contract or not, have a 'needs of the business' clause in the contract. This means if you are not needed (i.e. its not financially viable to keep you in that day as its quiet for example) then you will get sent home.

Happy to be corrected of course.

Iluvperegrines · 23/10/2022 14:37

I work at a popular cafe chain and had to give a minimum No of hours I wanted to work when I started - did you do that? As far as I understand they are not compelled to give me more than that on the rota.
If it is quiet we are asked if we want to go home, usually there is someone that’s very happy to take that up - it is made clear we don’t have to though.

Jaffacats · 23/10/2022 14:38

Yanbu. Zero hours contracts should be voluntary. If they invite you to do a shift for x amount of hours, they should honour it. If, what the other posters here are saying is correct, you can tell your employers you can’t go home because you need the money. If they start being tricky about it, I guess it’s time to find another job.

Keyansier · 23/10/2022 14:38

YellowTreeHouse · 23/10/2022 14:30

If you are scheduled a shift you are entitled to work it. They can ask you to go home, but you don’t have to.

Of course if you say no and they are a poor employer they may reduce your shifts overall so it doesn’t happen in future.

Show quote history

Can you provide a link to that, on the .gov website?

As I'm wondering: What is the point of zero hour contracts then?

YellowTreeHouse · 23/10/2022 14:46

Keyansier · 23/10/2022 14:38

Can you provide a link to that, on the .gov website?

As I'm wondering: What is the point of zero hour contracts then?

Show quote history

No, I don’t have time to be looking stuff up.

The point of zero hour contracts is that you can give as few or as many shifts as you want.

Of course if an employee refuses to go home when asked it is likely a poor employer will just reduce their scheduled shifts to combat high labour.

Keyansier · 23/10/2022 14:49

YellowTreeHouse · 23/10/2022 14:46

No, I don’t have time to be looking stuff up.

The point of zero hour contracts is that you can give as few or as many shifts as you want.

Of course if an employee refuses to go home when asked it is likely a poor employer will just reduce their scheduled shifts to combat high labour.

Show quote history

No, I don’t have time to be looking stuff up.

AKA - I'm making it up.

YellowTreeHouse · 23/10/2022 14:49

You’re welcome to believe that if you wish. You realise you also have access to google, yes?

Keyansier · 23/10/2022 14:50

YellowTreeHouse · 23/10/2022 14:49

You’re welcome to believe that if you wish. You realise you also have access to google, yes?

Yes

www.gov.uk/contract-types-and-employer-responsibilities/zero-hour-contracts

YellowTreeHouse · 23/10/2022 14:54

Keyansier · 23/10/2022 14:50

Show quote history

And where does it say on there you have to go home if asked?

Keyansier · 23/10/2022 14:57

YellowTreeHouse · 23/10/2022 14:54

And where does it say on there you have to go home if asked?

Show quote history

And where does it say you can legally refuse to go home if asked?

That's why I asked for a link confirming what you said is correct. Anybody can make any such claims about anything.

YellowTreeHouse · 23/10/2022 15:00

Keyansier · 23/10/2022 14:57

And where does it say you can legally refuse to go home if asked?

That's why I asked for a link confirming what you said is correct. Anybody can make any such claims about anything.

Show quote history

So what was the point of posting that link then? You may as well have posted a link to the CBBC site or the Financial Times website; would have made just as much sense.

Yes, of course anyone can make claims about anything. So if you doubt it, you are welcome to do some research, consult CAB or speak to your own HR.

Derailing a thread with random, nonsensical links isn’t going to help anyone.

ExtraOnions · 23/10/2022 15:01

There is a labour shortage .. go elsewhere.

DD just got taken on at Boots - 30 hours a week, £10 (ish) an hour

Dacquoise · 23/10/2022 15:15

Yes it is time to change jobs for the security alone. I would like to see a government ban these nonexistent working conditions, pure bloody exploitation for the benefit of employers, some of whom have gone on to become billionaires.

Getoff · 23/10/2022 17:25

So if you doubt it, you are welcome to do some research, consult CAB or speak to your own HR.

The general rule is that it is up to someone who claims something to prove it. So if A says X is true, and B doesn't believe them, it is up to A to provide evidence, otherwise what they have said can be disregarded.