Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
    • Advertise
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Equality, diversity and inclusion
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
    • OHW Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • XpertHR
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Pricing
    • Free trial
    • Subscribe
    • XpertHR USA
  • Webinars
  • OHW+

Personnel Today

Register
Log in
Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
    • Advertise
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Equality, diversity and inclusion
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
    • OHW Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • XpertHR
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Pricing
    • Free trial
    • Subscribe
    • XpertHR USA
  • Webinars
  • OHW+

Zero hours

Cable calls for help to identify zero hours exclusivity loopholes

by Rob Moss 26 Aug 2014
by Rob Moss 26 Aug 2014 REX/Dave Warren/LNP
REX/Dave Warren/LNP

Business secretary Vince Cable has called on employers and employees to identify potential loopholes in government plans to ban the use of exclusivity clauses in zero hours contracts.

Following the announcement in June that exclusivity clauses in zero hours contracts will be banned, the Government yesterday launched a consultation seeking the best methods to prevent unscrupulous employers circumventing new regulations, for example by guaranteeing a single hour of work.

Zero hours contracts on XpertHR

Practical guidance on employing an individual on a casual or zero hours contract

Employment law manaual > Contracts of employment > Types of contract > Casual contracts and zero hours contracts

Zero hours contract clause

Cable said: “We are looking closely at any potential loopholes that could arise from a ban, to ensure that these are closed off and no one can get round the new law.”

The consultation, which closes on 3 November 2014, also invites views on what can be done to deal with potential avoidance by employers, and what routes of redress might be appropriate for the employee.

Zero hours contracts have grown in popularity with 8% of workplaces using them in 2011, compared with 4% in 2004, according to the Workplace Employment Relations Study. They are particularly prevalent in the hospitality industry.

A 2013 CIPD survey found that 9% of individuals on zero hours contracts were not allowed to work for another employer when their primary employer had no work for them. The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills estimated that 17,000 people are on zero hours contracts with exclusivity clauses, while the CIPD suggested this figure could be as high as 125,000.

The exclusivity ban will form part of the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Bill.

Rob Moss
Rob Moss

Rob Moss is a business journalist with more than 25 years' experience. He has been editor of Personnel Today since 2010. He joined the publication in 2006 as online editor of the award-winning website. He specialises in labour market economics, gender diversity and family-friendly working. He has hosted hundreds of webinar and podcasts, most recently on the challenges created by the coronavirus pandemic. Before writing about HR and employment he ran news and feature desks on publications serving the global optical and eyewear market, the UK electrical industry, and energy markets in Asia and the Middle East.

previous post
Positive signs for pay deals as wage freezes thaw
next post
Kiss and tell? HR’s role in relationships at work

1 comment

Avatar
bb 3 Sep 2014 - 3:47 pm

I feel the use of zero hours which in the beginning used quite openly abroad and under controlled fairness. When brought into UK it was abused by companies unfairly.Why does the UK do this. It creates more red tape by Gov towards businesses, why do we create a mess from doing the underhand things!

Comments are closed.

You may also like

Queen’s Speech: absence of employment bill leaves organisations...

10 May 2022

Queen’s Speech: Exclusivity contracts for low-paid workers to...

9 May 2022

Employment Bill could face further delay

4 Apr 2022

Zero-hours work ‘tightens grip of structural racism’ on...

9 Mar 2022

Young people returning to insecure jobs, says study

31 Jan 2022

Work is becoming more secure, finds CIPD

25 Nov 2021

Online property firms face class action from ‘self...

21 Oct 2021

The end of furlough: what does it mean...

27 Sep 2021

Labour proposes day-one unfair dismissal protection

14 Sep 2021

TUC calls for government action on pandemic ‘class...

9 Sep 2021
  • NSPCC revamps its learning strategy with child wellbeing at its heart PROMOTED | The NSPCC’s mission is to prevent abuse and neglect...Read more
  • Diversity versus inclusion: Why the difference matters PROMOTED | It’s possible for an environment to be diverse, but not inclusive...Read more
  • Five steps for organisations across the globe to become more skills-driven PROMOTED | The shift in the world of work has been felt across the globe...Read more
  • The future of workforce development PROMOTED | Northumbria University and partners share insight...Read more
  • Strathclyde Business School expands its Degree Apprenticeship offer in England PROMOTED | The University of Strathclyde is expanding its programmes...Read more
  • The Search for Talent: Six Major Employer Pitfalls PROMOTED | The Great Resignation continues unabated...Read more
  • Navigating the widening “Skills Confidence Gap” in 2022, and beyond PROMOTED | Cornerstone OnDemand conducted a global study...Read more
  • Apprenticeships are the solution to your recruitment problems PROMOTED | Apprenticeships have the pulling power...Read more

Personnel Today Jobs
 

Search Jobs

PERSONNEL TODAY

About us
Contact us
Browse all HR topics
Email newsletters
Content feeds
Cookies policy
Privacy policy
Terms and conditions

JOBS

Personnel Today Jobs
Post a job
Why advertise with us?

EVENTS & PRODUCTS

The Personnel Today Awards
The RAD Awards
Employee Benefits
Forum for Expatriate Management
OHW+
Whatmedia

ADVERTISING & PR

Advertising opportunities
Features list 2022

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin


© 2011 - 2022 DVV Media International Ltd

Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
    • Advertise
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Equality, diversity and inclusion
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
    • OHW Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • XpertHR
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Pricing
    • Free trial
    • Subscribe
    • XpertHR USA
  • Webinars
  • OHW+