You'll work for up to 12 wks, as & when requ'd, no fixed shift or guaranteed hours ?

Caroline73_2

My husbands wages are enough for us to live on. We have two children. Anything I earn is for extras, such as holidays.

A zero hours contract suits me because I can arrange to have the days off over school holidays, to go to sports days and school performances etc. I don't have to have holiday when it can be fitted in. If I want a day off I can have it.

The advantage for my employer is that sometimes we have lots of work and sometimes there isn't much so they aren't paying people to do nothing at times when it's quiet.

I am a qualified nurse so it is a "job" and I do have a "contract", and I get holiday pay, pension and other staff benefits. I earnt £14000 last year on a zero hours contract so it's hardly a scam.

Caroline73_2

ceridwen wrote: »

Well that sort of "contract" is all well and good IF all a would-be employee requires is the chance to earn the odd bit of "extra" money ON TOP OF them already having a decent income to live on and/or a supportive spouse.

But - how on earth could anyone take on a "contract" like that if they NEED the money from that "job". It literally isnt possible and one would have to stay on the Dole (where at least there is a guaranteed "minimum income" - even though it isnt enough to live on - leastways if you're childless it isnt...:cool:).

Why are you using inverted commas?

Flyboy152

2sides2everystory wrote: »

Is it now? :rotfl:

But is it a job or a mickey take?

No, it's a casual job.

2sides2everystory

If it's casual, does it mean that you can dress as you like and you can come and go as you like ? I think not. I think it means you don't have a job, you just have a place to work if you keep your nose clean and knuckle under and tolerate whatever befalls you at the workplace.

Do all such "jobs" come with longer term prospects and commitments by the employer ? Or is that what is obviously and deliberately missing ?

What happens at the end of the 12 weeks? Does that mean you don't have a job, casual or otherwise and are looking for another on a similar basis ?

Or is that just the constant threat ?

Gordon_Hose

If you're getting paid for working, it's a job.

The terms of the contract are irrellevant. You either agree to them, or you don't.

2sides2everystory

... so more like a threat then, Gordon? The notion of a real job is just ancillary, perhaps.

Gordon_Hose

A threat of what, no work after the 12 weeks?

Well, thats the risk applicants take when applying for the job. If you don't want to take the risk, then don't apply.

It's not like the applicants don't know what they're getting into when applying.

Olokia

I used to be on a 0 hour contract for the first 12 weeks, they offered me that contract because I had no experience in retail previously. They did not want to offer me the full 37 hour week and have problems getting rid of me if I didn't learn fast enough.

If I was good at the job, they would give me the full 37 hours each week and after 12 weeks give me a full contract. If I was bad at the job, then they could give me only a small amount of hours and not renew my contract after the 12 weeks.

In the end, I worked there for 37 hours every week.

2sides2everystory

It's not like the applicants don't know what they're getting into when applying

I'd say that is exactly what it is like from what I have heard here ... coupled with the ridiculously low levels of pay that come with many of these jobs it looks to me to be barely one step above slavery and is a recipe for exploitation and discrimination. I say these "contracts" should be outlawed. They are the result of a creeping malaise that has now engulfed what used to be a civilised employment market in the UK but which is now the pits.

Gordon_Hose

So long as people need casual jobs, these contracts will exist, and I see nothing wrong with them.