zero hour contracts

[Spook187]

It's her choice to be on Zero hour contract, she signed it! If she doesn't like she can walk away and look for another job

Personally if i was made an offer and on the first day they slapped down a Zero hour contract, i would say "if you really want me then produce a proper contract or sorry i'm going"

It's not allways the case it's our choice.

As you can see there isn't rakes of jobs going about so saying take it or leave it really gets on my nerves when people like you think this way, i notice you seem to look down on people in this world sometimes who struggle to make a decent living wage for themselves.

 

[FoxEye]

Agency work and zero hours contracts are NOT the same thing.
Contracting and zero hours are NOT the same thing.

OK, then I'd like some clarification.

Myself and my colleagues are employed via agencies, to work for the local council. Were are expected to do 37 hours a week, but we only get paid for the hours we actually do work.

So if, for example, one of us has a dentist appointment that week, and only works 35 hours, they only get paid for 35 hours. There is no 'flexi' and we are not expected to make up that time the following week.

I always thought those were zero-hour contracts?

Anyway, some of us are on £8 per hour and get paid holiday. The rest are on £9.60 ish per hour and get no paid holiday.

Is this legal or not?

 

[GAC]

as iv said a couple of times. unless your are self employed you are entitled to holidays. its the law.

weather you'l get work after taking holidays is another thing, iv done that dance with agencies and local councils myself.

and dont mix up employment contract with being a contractor, your employed by the agency, your not self employed unless they are treating you as such and haven't told you.

 

[SexyGreyFox]

Let's throw this in the pot.
My niece works in a warehouse on Zero Hours but only gets paid for what she does, this means she can be there for 8 hours but only get paid for 4 when the goods arrive.

 

[GAC]

Let's throw this in the pot.
My niece works in a warehouse on Zero Hours but only gets paid for what she does, this means she can be there for 8 hours but only get paid for 4 when the goods arrive.

yeah that's illegal if she's employed by an agency, the ONLY way that would be legal is if she was contracted directly with the company and signed on to that. and if she's done that she needs a bit of a talking to about it as i wouldn't expect anyone to be at work for 8 hours having to wait for deliveries and only get paid when actually unloading the. not her fault they cant manage the logistics side.

 

[Freakbro]

like when my wife's emplyers call her on a Saturday evening and say she has to work (1 or 2 hrs notice) as it is her "weekend on" and then they get stroppy if she refuses

she has no problem with it but it works both ways, she is not "on call" 24x7

Absolutely, this is what I would class as abuse of the zero hour contract by the employer.

If you (the Employer) are not willing to give any commitment to the employee, then you cannot expect any back.

In the nursery I know, they use bank staff on zero hour contracts, but if they ring the person to come in and they are busy, no problem, they will try someone else.

Let's throw this in the pot.
My niece works in a warehouse on Zero Hours but only gets paid for what she does, this means she can be there for 8 hours but only get paid for 4 when the goods arrive.

Again, that is outrageous. If you are not freely disposed to use your time as you will, ie: on work premises waiting, then you should be paid.

Where do you work?

I'm a self employed accountant and manage the books for various SME's

 

[RDM]

Anyway, some of us are on £8 per hour and get paid holiday. The rest are on £9.60 ish per hour and get no paid holiday.

Is this legal or not?

The ones on £9.60 have their holiday pay rolled into their hourly rate, which was how it worked on the zero hour contract I have just finished.

 

[Freakbro]

The ones on £9.60 have their holiday pay rolled into their hourly rate, which was how it worked on the zero hour contract I have just finished.

Which has been illegal since 2006 afaik

http://www.personneltoday.com/artic...-ruled-illegal-across-europe-working-time.htm

Maybe zero hour contracts can be treated differently, I don't know.

 

[GAC]

Which has been illegal since 2006 afaik

http://www.personneltoday.com/artic...-ruled-illegal-across-europe-working-time.htm

Maybe zero hour contracts can be treated differently, I don't know.

no it seems they just do what they like as the workers don't have a clue where they stand, same deal as a lot of agencies who will drop you when you start asking questions.

 

[RDM]

Which has been illegal since 2006 afaik

http://www.personneltoday.com/artic...-ruled-illegal-across-europe-working-time.htm

Maybe zero hour contracts can be treated differently, I don't know.

It was via a university and their HR departments are normally relatively anal about these things so I think it may be acceptable for zero hour contracts as it ensures that you get holiday pay. I believe we were also required to adhere to the rest of the Working Time Directive, but I don't think I went over 70 hours a month anyway.

 

[GAC]

It was via a university and their HR departments are normally relatively anal about these things so I think it may be acceptable for zero hour contracts as it ensures that you get holiday pay. I believe we were also required to adhere to the rest of the Working Time Directive, but I don't think I went over 70 hours a month anyway.

did you have the option of what to do though ? or did they just tell you thats how it is.

 

[RDM]

did you have the option of what to do though ? or did they just tell you thats how it is.

No option, but we were applying up front for a zero hour contract.

 

[Haggisman]

like when my wife's emplyers call her on a Saturday evening and say she has to work (1 or 2 hrs notice) as it is her "weekend on" and then they get stroppy if she refuses

My response to them getting stroppy would be something along the lines of "please point out where in my contract it states I am to be available on Saturday evenings?".

To be honest, with regards the holiday pay, personally I'd prefer a slight payrise at the expense of a few days holiday, where I used to work we had the option of "selling" some of our days back to the company (or buying a few extra if you wanted), which was great. In my current job, I'm stuck with 14 days of holiday left until January, having already booked off a week in September, and have no plans for going away or doing anything with those holidays, meaning I have to either take them and have "wasted" days sat at home twiddling my thumbs, or lose them (can only carry forward 5 days). I'd much rather earn a few extra ££...

 

[GAC]

No option, but we were applying up front for a zero hour contract.

yeah that sounds a bit dodgy tbh, as by law your supposed to get them unless you waiver them for pay and thats only normally at the end of the year where you could sell them back. but who know's colleges are normally on the ball but all it takes is one HR muppet to change the law or at least change it in their interpretation.

when i was still working on the bins via an agency a couple of years ago they said the temp workers directive didnt apply to us, then that we would be left go at 11 weeks and come back after a few weeks, and then that they where exempt from it because of the nature of the work ?!

god knows what bullmuck they are spreading now but one thing i have learned over the years is agencies dont like paying anymore than they have to.

 

[RDM]

yeah that sounds a bit dodgy tbh, as by law your supposed to get them unless you waiver them for pay and thats only normally at the end of the year where you could sell them back. but who know's colleges are normally on the ball but all it takes is one HR muppet to change the law or at least change it in their interpretation.

when i was still working on the bins via an agency a couple of years ago they said the temp workers directive didnt apply to us, then that we would be left go at 11 weeks and come back after a few weeks, and then that they where exempt from it because of the nature of the work ?!

god knows what bullmuck they are spreading now but one thing i have learned over the years is agencies dont like paying anymore than they have to.

It wasn't an agency, it was direct with the Uni, to be honest it suited me fine, there was no way I was going to be doing enough hours for it to matter and the extra pay was nice to have. I only did a few days a week and could be flexible around my studies, a zero hour contract was ideal.

 

[GAC]

yeah i got the direct via the uni, just seems odd thats all.

 

[Freakbro]

It was via a university and their HR departments are normally relatively anal about these things so I think it may be acceptable for zero hour contracts as it ensures that you get holiday pay. I believe we were also required to adhere to the rest of the Working Time Directive, but I don't think I went over 70 hours a month anyway.

Aye, I agree that something like a University would probably be meticulous with following employment law, and rolling up hol pay into an hourly rate just simplifies it, rather than paying it after the contract finishes.

I think it was mainly for shift and contract workers, it's just I haven't seen any legislation that specifically exempts zero hour contracts from the ruling above.

Either way, at least you got paid it

 

[GAC]

and another company being arses. hovis are at it now.

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/aug/27/hovis-workers-strike-zero-hours

The BFAWU said agency workers were brought in almost immediately after about 30 permanent staff were made redundant in April. The union fears that Premier Foods plans to use agency workers to take on work that is likely to fall to the Wigan bakery after the closure of Hovis bakeries in Birmingham and London.

and il bet some people will still claim this doesnt happen.

 

[Outline]

Well the choice is either accept the zero hour contract, or don't work for that company

&

It's a political storm whipped up by Labour over a relatively small number of employees some of whom are being abused by the employer in ways that are ALREADY against the law.

People really have to learn to be skeptical of anything politicians say and go find out the truth for themselves.

 

[Efour]

Hovis

Pics or it didn't happen.