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Zero-hours role - pension query

Hi,

If you accept a zero-hours job, would you get a pension?

I recently went for an interview, during which it was that the Manager's preference of zero-hours were mentioned. This conversation was verbal. Whilst I'm hoping the Manager has it wrong, some hallmarks are coming through such as supply own uniform, particular time of week the business struggles with staff levels but there is huge benefit to me as well with the hourly pay being more and no cost to travel to work.

I have since been issued a 'new starter' pack after a brief trial but I've nothing else in writing at this stage, apart from some forms in fill out which was the new starter pack. I hoped there maybe a generic letter for their idea of zero-hours but nothing like it. (Appreciate they may have up to 8 weeks to confirm)

I'm wondering and sneaky I know but if I were to be enrolled for a pension, could this later on be used to indicate and confirm employment status?

Many thanks.
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Comments

  • Paul_Herring
    Paul_Herring Posts: 7,484 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    If you accept a zero-hours job, would you get a pension?

    Maybe. Depends on how much you'll be getting paid.

    https://www.autoenrolment.co.uk/knowledge-bank/in-depth-articles/employee-classifications-qualifying-earnings
    I'm wondering and sneaky I know but if I were to be enrolled for a pension, could this later on be used to indicate and confirm employment status?

    Surely being on the payroll, getting paid, and being subject to tax should be sufficient confirmation?

    Or is this some sort of cash-in-hand thing? In which case I rather suspect pensions will be far from the mind of your 'employer.'
    Conjugating the verb 'to be":
    -o I am humble -o You are attention seeking -o She is Nadine Dorries
  • lisyloo
    lisyloo Posts: 30,094 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Pensions can take a month or 2 to set up.
    You should be on the payroll before that.

    I’ve always had a contract for a permanent position.

  • Or is this some sort of cash-in-hand thing? In which case I rather suspect pensions will be far from the mind of your 'employer.'

    God I hope not. The only positive thing about the 'new starter pack' is that there is a P46/new starter form and a personal details form asking for my bank details.

    Sadly the form behind it is 'office use' and not yet filled in, where the 'employer' declares to head office if I'm permanent or casual.

    I asked because my own look around on zero-hours, has the advice from the Provident as no pension and yet one of the pension providers say's yes but worked on earnings like you say. I tried to find out why the position is mentioned as zero-hours but hit a brick wall and not easy to rock the boat.
  • lisyloo
    lisyloo Posts: 30,094 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    what do you mean by hit a brick wall? How many times have you asked? What was the response?
    Are you dealing with an agency or the firm direct?
    It's perfectly reasonable for you to enquire on what basis you are being employed and quite unreasonable for them to withhold this information.


    Is this the only option for you? as it's doesn't sound like a great opportunity to me.
    At best they are disorganised.
    At worst they are trying to take advantage.
  • Dealing with Employer direct, I applied for what was listed as a permanent part time job only to arrive at interview it turned into full-time, but only as zero-hours.
    I tried to ask during my trial if the hotel had ever experienced any quiet times but told no and diary shown.
    It has become apparent there is a bigger team then what you would find for this hotel dept and they are long timers which worries me that they only really need someone for weekends and if there is sickness as when I was given first week's rota 4 shifts are shadowing and realistically there was only one other shift I could complete which falls at a weekend.

    I could be over thinking it and reading things about zero-hours is scaring me silly but in a couple of weeks I'd hate to be in another sad position where I'm let go or down to one shift per week. I just couldn't cope.

    I have thought maybe this whole senario lets them see if they like someone before they commit. Equally I appreciate my past means they might be trying a different way and I could be arguing months or year down the line when I thought I was zero-hours and a worker that I'm a regular employee. I do suspect that sometimes some employers talk about zero-hours without knowing all it entails.
  • lisyloo
    lisyloo Posts: 30,094 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    From what you have said I am fearing the worst I.e. they are using this to fill in sickness and undesirable shifts.
    I could be wrong but if it was a permanent position with a trial, then why wouldn’t it just be advertised as that?

    Good luck, I hope I’m wrong and often it’s good to assume the best.
  • nigelbb
    nigelbb Posts: 3,819 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Even if this is as & when ad hoc shifts the employer must still enrol you in a pension scheme & make appropriate contributions for hours worked once you are over the qualifying threshold of £6,136 per year.
  • badmemory
    badmemory Posts: 10,042 Forumite
    Ninth Anniversary 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    I would go with no pension. An employer who likes a lot of zero hour contract employees is looking to save themselves money. So no NI employers contribution to pay & no pension to pay. These are the advantages along with cancelling shifts at the last minute if it is pouring down or whatever & so they expect a lower footfall!
  • Paul_Herring
    Paul_Herring Posts: 7,484 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    nigelbb wrote: »
    Even if this is as & when ad hoc shifts the employer must still enrol you in a pension scheme & make appropriate contributions for hours worked once you are over the qualifying threshold of £6,136 per year.

    No. The qualifying threshold for "must enrol" is £10,000. The threshold you mention is where the employee may instead ask to be added and the employer must then contribute.
    Conjugating the verb 'to be":
    -o I am humble -o You are attention seeking -o She is Nadine Dorries
  • Thanks for listening lisyloo x

    I'm pleased to say I/the big boss might be wrong about this zero-hours.

    When I went into day I was taken to see the hotel administrator (who I thought was one of the old timer's on reception!) so I think there genuinely is a job. :o
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