Zero Hour Contracts

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has produced a guide for employers on zero-hour contracts.

Generally speaking, a zero hours contract is one in which the employer does not guarantee the individual any hours of work. The employer offers the individual work when it arises, and the individual can either accept the work offered, or decide not to take up the offer of work on that occasion.

The guidance does not cover those who are genuinely self-employed and undertake work on a zero hours arrangement. For example, a self-employed plumber might take up work offered on a zero hours basis from a number of regular clients, but he remains self-employed.

Everyone employed on a zero hours contract is entitled to statutory employment rights without exception.

The guide goes into detail on the following

• What are zero hours contracts?
• Employment rights
• Appropriate use
• Inappropriate use
• Alternatives
• Best practice
• Exclusivity clauses

This is an extremely useful guide for any employers who has workers on zero hours contracts (casuals) working for them.