0 hr contracts

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Discussion

Vaud

50,607 posts

156 months

Monday 5th November 2018
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HedgeyGedgey said:
I have done, and I don't qualify for them. Well that's from the university themselves, I'm not sure if a student union would be any different
Try them...

Kermit power

28,679 posts

214 months

Monday 5th November 2018
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ToothbrushMan said:
I have never heard of arranging your own cover if you need time off. Is this company in the 21st century?
I don't think it's that unusual, is it?

My wife has this. Works in a gym as part of a team of 4. They're not on zero hours contracts; they're all on full time working contracts, but they do arrange their own cover between them. It's the sort of environment where they couldn't really bring in temp cover without having to put them through a day or two of training, which isn't really viable, and communicating via the manager would just add delays and complications, so they're all happy to just arrange cover between themselves.

The difference, of course, is that they're a very good employer - reflected in the fact that my wife is the only one in the gym team who has been there under 5 years, which is unheard of in that industry! - so the employees are happy to go with it and make things work.

HedgeyGedgey

Original Poster:

1,282 posts

95 months

Friday 22nd February 2019
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Just thought I'd update this thread. I had enough of the place, sleeping all day for a shift only to wake up to a message from the manager saying not to come in. So I handed in my notice, told them to jog on. And have just heard tonight from another employee there that they've done the same today. Seen they've not sold as many advanced tickets as they thought, and given 5 employees thr night off as "they're not needed". Boils my piss this does

The Mad Monk

10,474 posts

118 months

Friday 22nd February 2019
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Drumroll said:
Sounds like a cr@p employer rather than anything to do with zero hours contract.
Sounds like an employee standing for the three card trick rather than anything to do with a zero hours contract.

Shakermaker

11,317 posts

101 months

Friday 22nd February 2019
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HedgeyGedgey said:
Just thought I'd update this thread. I had enough of the place, sleeping all day for a shift only to wake up to a message from the manager saying not to come in. So I handed in my notice, told them to jog on. And have just heard tonight from another employee there that they've done the same today. Seen they've not sold as many advanced tickets as they thought, and given 5 employees thr night off as "they're not needed". Boils my piss this does
Good, sounds like you're much better off because of it.

There are many employers who do understand the needs of a flexible work pattern and might well be able to suit you better; though of course in a university town there will always be competition for those jobs as well.

Best of luck

Integroo

11,574 posts

86 months

Friday 22nd February 2019
quotequote all
HedgeyGedgey said:
Just thought I'd update this thread. I had enough of the place, sleeping all day for a shift only to wake up to a message from the manager saying not to come in. So I handed in my notice, told them to jog on. And have just heard tonight from another employee there that they've done the same today. Seen they've not sold as many advanced tickets as they thought, and given 5 employees thr night off as "they're not needed". Boils my piss this does
Good for you.

Zero hours contracts are utterly exploitative.

andburg

7,296 posts

170 months

Friday 22nd February 2019
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If you have records of when that type of call has occurred you may have a case for loss of earnings as insufficient notice was given.

The Mad Monk

10,474 posts

118 months

Friday 22nd February 2019
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Integroo said:
Zero hours contracts are utterly exploitative.
Not necessarily.

Vaud

50,607 posts

156 months

Friday 22nd February 2019
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Integroo said:
Zero hours contracts are utterly exploitative.
In some cases yes. In some cases no. They are not a unilaterally bad thing.

Integroo

11,574 posts

86 months

Friday 22nd February 2019
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The Mad Monk said:
Not necessarily.
Vaud said:
In some cases yes. In some cases no. They are not a unilaterally bad thing.
I concede that in very limited circumstances they are not. However, they are mostly utilised by shady employers to pass risk from employer to employee. Stories like OPs, or someone I know who will get told a few hours before his shift starts that he isn't to come in because they don't have enough bookings in the restaurant, or even for more inane reasons like the owner is going to close the restaurant for the evening as they are going to pick up their new dog.

Vaud

50,607 posts

156 months

Friday 22nd February 2019
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Integroo said:
I concede that in very limited circumstances they are not. However, they are mostly utilised by shady employers to pass risk from employer to employee. Stories like OPs, or someone I know who will get told a few hours before his shift starts that he isn't to come in because they don't have enough bookings in the restaurant, or even for more inane reasons like the owner is going to close the restaurant for the evening as they are going to pick up their new dog.
The stats disagree with you

https://www.cipd.co.uk/about/media/press/041215-ze... - ok, 2015 but a reputable and independent group

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-25098984

https://iea.org.uk/media/two-thirds-of-people-on-z...

I'd agree with you that there are some exploitative employers, most probably smaller businesses who don't understand their responsibilities.

I'm in favour of better protection against the abuse, rather than scrapping ZHCs. For some demographics, e.g. students they are very, very popular as they also allow a balance and flex in term/non-term time.

McDonalds, by example, probably have it right by offerings some minimum thresholds - 4/8/16 hours, etc with flex on top.


98elise

26,644 posts

162 months

Friday 22nd February 2019
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Integroo said:
The Mad Monk said:
Not necessarily.
Vaud said:
In some cases yes. In some cases no. They are not a unilaterally bad thing.
I concede that in very limited circumstances they are not. However, they are mostly utilised by shady employers to pass risk from employer to employee. Stories like OPs, or someone I know who will get told a few hours before his shift starts that he isn't to come in because they don't have enough bookings in the restaurant, or even for more inane reasons like the owner is going to close the restaurant for the evening as they are going to pick up their new dog.
CIPD disagree. In their survey's the majority of people on Zero Hours are perfectly happy (as I am).

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-25098984

Unfortunately you've fallen I to the trap of believing politicians hot air. Do you know anyone treated badly as an FTE? If so does that make FTE bad?

Of course there are exploitative and crap employers, but that's not exclusive to ZHC. For many it works well.


Edited by 98elise on Friday 22 February 13:15

Barga

12,241 posts

207 months

Friday 22nd February 2019
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HedgeyGedgey said:
andburg said:
you have no contracted hours, you're not asking for leave, you're telling them you are unavailable for work that week.

I expect the terms/contract you have is a standard hours contract for notice periods that's just had the number of hours set at 0 rather than a specifically written contract.
Thank you, I don't believe I'm entitled to holiday pay as such because i dont work enough
Holiday pay is worked out on the previous 12weeks work as I understand it so if you have worked you are entitled to HP pro rata.