Sportsdirect; 90% of staff on zero hour contracts

CLAPTON

JencParker wrote: »

Oh, that's all right then, because you know a few people who work zero hour contracts.

They clearly don't need to work if they see it as a bonus - so don't compare with those who need to work to pay the bills.

PS that sort of work has always been casual/self employed type work.

If you want a rant against sport direct and indeed all profit driven businesses then that's fine; if you long for a socialist republic that's fine too.


If however, one wants to propose changing the law then it's important to make proposals that actually address the problem and don't disadvantage other people with unintended consequences.

I'm sure you are a very nice person and are genuinely concerned for your fellow people.
However,there is a long list of such people who sadly have done much harm.

ukcarper

CLAPTON wrote: »

If you want a rant against sport direct and indeed all profit driven businesses then that's fine; if you long for a socialist republic that's fine too.


If however, one wants to propose changing the law then it's important to make proposals that actually address the problem and don't disadvantage other people with unintended consequences.

I'm sure you are a very nice person and are genuinely concerned for your fellow people.
However,there is a long list of such people who sadly have done much harm.

Is it any worse longing for a socialist republic that wanting some imaginary capitalist utopia.

JencParker

CLAPTON wrote: »

If you want a rant against sport direct and indeed all profit driven businesses then that's fine; if you long for a socialist republic that's fine too.


If however, one wants to propose changing the law then it's important to make proposals that actually address the problem and don't disadvantage other people with unintended consequences.

I'm sure you are a very nice person and are genuinely concerned for your fellow people.
However,there is a long list of such people who sadly have done much harm.

Why should I want a rant about all profit driven business - I run a business myself.

However,there is a long list of profit driven people who sadly have done much harm too.

Business and profit does not need to and should not exclude responsibility.

grizzly1911

CLAPTON wrote: »

If you want a rant against sport direct and indeed all profit driven businesses then that's fine; if you long for a socialist republic that's fine too.

Not quite sure why you see all things in a capitalist/socialist view.Excess of either is not healthy.

There is middle ground.

CLAPTON

ukcarper wrote: »

Is it any worse longing for a socialist republic that wanting some imaginary capitalist utopia.

I've no idea.

I'm quite happy with a rather ill defined mixed economy with some parts operated by businesses concerned with profit and innovation, some run by government, some by not-for-profit companies and all regulated by a well defined set of laws.

Where things are wrong then the changes in the law may be applicable.
Better to think a little first, however as we have lots of laws that, while well intended, are injurious to many and don't achieve their objectives.

CLAPTON

grizzly1911 wrote: »

Not quite sure why you see all things in a capitalist/socialist view.Excess of either is not healthy.

There is middle ground.

Yes indeed; I've covered that in my last post.

coastline

In general zero contracts will benefit the employer...why would they be introduced in the first place...whats wrong with the old part time working conditions..
Even the government are showing concerns about the rapid rise in numbers..

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/zerohours-contracts-for-workers-to-be-reviewed-by-coalition-8656328.html

Big companies are flush with cash yet they fail to give their staff an inflation linked pay rise...surely they are just taking advantage of the recent world slump..

http://www.fm-magazine.com/feature/depth/cash-king

wotsthat

JencParker wrote: »

Well, as someone who has refused to enter Starbucks long before their tax exploits were revealed, I agree to a certain extent, although I would suggest that those who endorse such businesses don't care and are not struggling financially - probably the very same that make some of the comments on this forum. However, the consumer does not have ALL the power, the government also has power - or do you think that businesses would have willingly introduced a minimum wage?

I don't endorse Sport Direct policy. If 90% of the staff are on zero hour contracts that would seem to be taking the rules to the limit in a business where they'll know when to plan for footfall.

That said the consumer really does have all the power. If no-one shopped there again there's not a thing the government or Sports Direct can do about it.

Businesses go bust all the time due to consumer action. If the consumer is anywhere as near bothered about this as they were about, say, PPI, Sports Direct will be bust within a month.

wotsthat

Graham_Devon wrote: »

Interesting that this thread should seperate the two camps again though, with all those wishing for higher HPI supporting sports direct using such exploitative practices.

Just gotta figure out the link now!

Yes Graham - everything comes back to house prices in the end.

ash28

CLAPTON wrote: »

I know people who work zero hour contracts.
The job involved exhibitions and shows.

If there are no shows or exhibitions then no work and no pay; equally they have no obligation to work if they don't want to.

They are very happy with this work as they see it as a nice little bonus and actually like meeting all the people.

I think zero hours contracts are ok if it's not your main income....my niece had a zero hours contract with Asda when she was at university....the Asda was near her parent's, when she was on holiday she used to ring Asda and they gave her work. Worked well for her for 3 years.

My brother in law is early retired and has a zero hours contract driving cars (imports and exports) on and off boats - they ring him and ask him if wants to work that evening or night - he will say yes or no......sometimes they will arrange work for up to a week ahead. It suits him, he earns a bit of extra money and is able to work to suit himself and take time off for extended holidays.

I think where it is the main job it must be an almighty pain....how can you get credit or apply for a mortgage on a contract where you don't know if you will have work from one day to the next.....can you claim JSA if you have no work for a week or less than 16 hours work - what about housing benefit.....none of these things happen overnight, it can be several weeks before JSA is sorted. So the chances are you could be in arrears with your rent before you've blinked. And if you turn down a shift or a few hours and you need to claim JSA will you then be sanctioned....for 6 months.

Then you have the companies who call people in and them tell them there is no work but want them to stay on the premises unpaid in case they need them. And it does happen.

Companies often try and use zero hours as a way of introducing flexibility into their workforce and will often encourage workers to change to zero hours.....then if they are made redundant they will be entitled to nothing....

For a company to have a large number of people on zero hours, due to the instability of the contract for the worker it must be quite difficult to manage from a motivational, morale and training aspect, that alone could add considerably to business cost.

A lot of function work is zero hours....historically it was casual (cash in hand) and most people did functions as a second job.

Some of the regulation around zero hours needs tightening up to stop some employers taking the pee.