zero hours query

esalad

Hi all,

I have been with an employer for approx 2 months under a zero hours contract and assumed it was entirely ok to refuse work if you wanted to. I advised my employer that I would not be available to work this weekend and received a phone call telling me that it was not ok to refuse work and I would be expected in.

I have not seen or recieved a contract only been verbally informed of it hence assumed it was ok to do this.

Any one a bit clearer on this than me?

TPMHR

You are entitled to refuse work at any time on a zero hours contract.

A written contract should be provided within 2 months of employment, as you haven't received one, then assume statutory law.

Go to the ACAS page, search zero hours myth busting. (Newbie, not allowed to post links.)

Hope that helps.
T

Annisele

I agree that OP is entitled to refuse work at any time. The flip side of that is that the employer is entitled to choose not to offer OP any more work ever again - and if the employer does make that choice, there's nothing OP can do about it.

The link TPMHR can't post is I think this one. That article says it would be bad practice for the employer to refuse to offer more work in these circumstances - and I completely agree - but "bad practice" isn't the same as "illegal".

Zero hours contracts suck.

TPMHR

I agree with everything Annisele just said. I was trying to avoid saying the fact that they haven't given you a contract would indicate they probably won't be abiding by good pratice.

Thank you for posting the link.
T