furlough

suzannaf42

since march i have been receiving 80% of 35 hours in furlough pay,  This week i have been taken off furlough my holiday accrument removed and now only get paid for 12 hours ( I have a zero hours contract) which is considerably less.  Can my employer do this. this has happened to every employee that i work with.

Jeremy535897

Presumably you are working the 12 hours?

Employers were never obliged to furlough anyone, so they can take you off furlough at any time. Your holiday pay rights should however be unaffected.

Galloglass

I have a zero hours contract

Were you working 35 hours in the reference period which I assume to be last year. Or did your employer enhance your past record. 

A ZHC is exactly what it says - an agreement to give and accept the hours above zero that the business requires.

poppy10_2

suzannaf42 said:

 now only get paid for 12 hours

How many hours are you working?

suzannaf42

I have always worked 35 hours up until 23rd march2020.and have been there for17 years. IMy hours have been cut to 12 hours which i understand as I work in a hotel.because as my boss said he will have to start contributing to our wages and pay NI and tax this is whqt he has done. I went back to work in august and still received furlough pay but now in September have been taken off it even though i am still working short hours. Should i still be eligable for furlough pay to help me out.

mattyprice4004

I don't believe so, no - if you're back at work and you're on a zero hours contract they don't have to give you any hours at all. 
It's one of the downsides of a zero hours contract; the amount you work can just be changed on a whim. 

Jeremy535897

As I said, no employer is obliged to furlough anyone, although if they do, they have to use a selection process that meets employment law (discrimination due to race etc). When did your contract become a zero hours contract? Was it 17 years ago?

If you have always worked 35 hours a week, your contract may not actually be a zero hours contract. There is some information here:
http://www.safeworkers.co.uk/zero-hours-contracts-explained.html