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Zero hours

Zero hours contracts are sometimes used by employers that require flexibility in their workforce, for example where the need for workers is unpredictable. Under a zero hours contract, the employer is not obliged to offer the worker a set number of hours. Their use has attracted controversy and in 2013 the government outlined plans to restrict the use of “exclusivity clauses” whereby workers are stopped from working for other employers.


    • Fire and rehire
    • Zero hours
    • Employment law

    Labour publishes plan to deliver New Deal for workers

    by Rob Moss 28 May 2024
    by Rob Moss 28 May 2024

    Party publishes New Deal for Working People under the heading Labour’s Plan to Make Work Pay, attracting some union criticism.

    • Fire and rehire
    • Zero hours
    • Employment law

    Labour and unions reach agreement on employment plans

    by Rob Moss 15 May 2024
    by Rob Moss 15 May 2024

    Trades unions and Labour reach agreement on workers’ rights proposals after party was accused of watering down plans to please business groups.

    • Zero hours
    • Employment law
    • Latest News

    Why Labour’s New Deal intrigues business leaders more than it worries them

    by Amanda Glover 14 May 2024
    by Amanda Glover 14 May 2024

    Labour's New Deal for Working People challenges the idea that the UK should be a low cost, deregulated economy, given that productivity remains stubbornly below its European competitors.

    • Zero hours
    • Employment law
    • Latest News

    Unions warn Labour not to ‘water down’ New Deal for Workers

    by Adam McCulloch 2 May 2024
    by Adam McCulloch 2 May 2024

    The UK’s second largest union, Unite, has issued a fresh warning to the Labour party not to dilute its proposed New Deal for Workers.

    • Zero hours
    • Equality, diversity and inclusion
    • Latest News

    TUC: zero hours contracts are example of ‘structural racism’

    by Adam McCulloch 27 Apr 2024
    by Adam McCulloch 27 Apr 2024

    Black and ethnic minority women are twice as likely to be on zero-hours contracts as white men, according to a new analysis.

    • Zero hours
    • Employment law
    • Latest News

    Libby Purves is wrong: the UK’s employment law is best in class

    by John Hayes 18 Apr 2024
    by John Hayes 18 Apr 2024

    Employment lawyer John Hayes takes issue with an article in The Times and explains why UK law strikes the right balance.

    • Zero hours
    • Latest News
    • Gig economy

    1.4 million workers face ‘double jeopardy’

    by Rob Moss 17 Apr 2024
    by Rob Moss 17 Apr 2024

    Analysis shows 1.4 million people face the ‘double jeopardy’ of working in severely insecure jobs while privately renting.

    • Zero hours
    • Annual hours
    • Carers

    Top 10 HR questions March 2024: Ramadan, carer’s leave and holiday

    by Brightmine 3 Apr 2024
    by Brightmine 3 Apr 2024

    The top FAQ this month looks at how employers can support employees observing Ramadan, which this year runs until 10 April.

    • Zero hours
    • Latest News
    • Employment contracts

    Zero-hours contracts hit record numbers

    by Jo Faragher 22 Mar 2024
    by Jo Faragher 22 Mar 2024

    A record number of young people are on zero-hours contracts, according to the Work Foundation.

    • Fire and rehire
    • Zero hours
    • Employment law

    Can Labour satisfy business and unions on workers’ rights?

    by Adam McCulloch 21 Mar 2024
    by Adam McCulloch 21 Mar 2024

    As Labour appears to be closer to coming into government, efforts to influence policy by business and unions are bound to gather pace.

    • Age
    • Zero hours
    • Gender

    More people moving into ‘severely insecure work’

    by Rob Moss 26 Feb 2024
    by Rob Moss 26 Feb 2024

    More than 0.5 million people moved into ‘severely insecure work’ last year, according to Work Foundation’s UK Insecure Work Index 2024

    • Zero hours
    • Latest News
    • Trade unions

    Workers stuck in zero-hours jobs ‘out of necessity, not choice’

    by Adam McCulloch 20 Feb 2024
    by Adam McCulloch 20 Feb 2024

    Two-thirds of zero-hours workers have been with their current ‘employer’ for more than a year and approaching half have been in their zero hours roles for two year, a study has revealed.

    • Fire and rehire
    • Zero hours
    • Employment law

    Workers’ rights under Labour: CBI warns of ‘unintended consequences’

    by Rob Moss 8 Feb 2024
    by Rob Moss 8 Feb 2024

    New CBI president Rupert Soames says the Labour party's proposals for workers' rights should be watered down.

    • Agency workers
    • Zero hours
    • Criminal records

    Top 10 HR questions November 2023: Holiday carry-over

    by Brightmine 4 Dec 2023
    by Brightmine 4 Dec 2023

    Poopular topics last month includes the carry-over of annual leave, irregular hours workers, working time record-keeping, and TUPE.

    • Zero hours
    • Employment law
    • Latest News

    Legal expert calls new holiday pay regulations ‘incoherent’

    by Ashleigh Webber 30 Nov 2023
    by Ashleigh Webber 30 Nov 2023

    An employment lawyer says new holiday pay regulations that were hoped to simplify calculations for irregular hours workers are problematic.

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