zero hour contract nightmare...

[AliciaBASZ]

Hi there,

I've been working in a private nursery for 2 months and it's been nice... untill last week. I've been working some 9 hours a day some days, but that didn't bother me. I usually work from 4 to 9 hours a day, with an average of 24 hours a week.

As I am on a zero hour contract, not having stable hours, I tell my boss a week in advance which days I can't work or which hours I can do on this or other day.

As usual, I informed my boss by mail last week about the fact that I would only be able to work from 9:30 to 14:30 on tuesday, wednesday and thurday.

She sent next week rota on friday. As a surprise she told me that she actually didn't need me and would not give me any hour for this week...

She knows I can work on monday or on friday... and even from 9:30 to 14:30 on these 3 days she might need me...

I just don't know how to react when I'll be back to work... She knows I have children... when I do my shopping, it doesn't come free... and I have to pay my rent...

I feel it's highly disgusting... I feel exploited... I feel she wants to mold me as she wishes... or maybe that's a way to tell me she doesn't want me anymore...

What would you advice me?

Many thanks.

Unfortunately that's the perils of zero hour contracts I'm afraid.

I don't think they're right or fair but unfortunately there isn't anything you can do

As a nursery manager I very pleased we don't use zero hours contracts as I feel they are exploitative
But usually how they work is that your employer normally dictates the hours you work
I also know from running a nursery that ratios need to be met and it isn't cost effective to have Zeta people in when they are not needed
Perhaps somebody else has your hours, someone who is more reliable in the managers eyes

Apologies for my shit spell check
It isn't even trying today

You probably need to bear in mind that children will be absent over the summer months so less likelihood of stable hours for you. How old are your dc? You may need to be more flexible with availability to get rostered each week. How do you plan to cover childcare in the school holidays?

Yes, I know that flexibility is an issue, but she hired an agency for at least a whole day this week...

I feel that being on a zero hour contract is actually more restrictive than having fixed hours. As I never khow how I'm gonna work I have to assume I'm not working when my GP gives me an appointment (it takes often more than 10 days to have one...), this is why I inform about the days or hours I can't work (I can't wait untill the rota comes to tell that I can't work because of this or that)..;

Well, with 4 children and a husband who has a health issue it's quite a challenge to go back to work...

@ insancerre
my employer proposed me to do First Aid and Food & Hygiene training very soon. She also proposed me to do a Level 2 or 3 from september, with at least a 16 hours contract. The trainings will be paid by the nursery, but if we leave we have to pay for all the trainings we would have done. I am thinking about undergoing these training by myself (paying them myself to feel "free")... What do you think ? And can you guide me about which training would be good for me, thanks !

Don't pay for the training yourself
Get your permanent contract then you will feel more secure
You will only have to pay it back if you leave within a certain timeframe
definitely do your level 2/3 if you can, it will make it easier for you to get another job, should you need one
As for your manager using agency staff, it is more than likely she needed a qualified person to meet the required qualified ratio

@insancerre

Thanks a lot for all your advices !

The solution to this is to get a permanent part-time job. Best employers for this will be Local Government or the NHS who have lots of people working part-time, flexi or compressed hours. They will treat you much better.

Employers want you at their beck and call on zero hours contracts. If you can't work on certain days they seem to take umbridge and will just 'bump' you in favour of someone who will sit by the phone and say yes to everything offered.

Zero hours contracts are for mugs and one of the reasons I voted Labour who pledged to get rid of them!