Zero hour V's paid by the hour contract

skinflynt

Hi all,

I'm trying to understand what the difference(s) are, if any, between a zero hour contract and a paid by the hour contract and if it even applies to my situation!

My contract states "that on average you will be required to work up to 30 hours per week".  I'm presuming that means that on some weeks they could offer nothing at all if they so wished? What would happen then regarding pay? The contract specifies pay rate by the hour but no other details. 

Also, would it mean that I have to always be available for up to 30 hours per week regardless of if they decide to offer it or not?  This would have real issues as it would limit any other work I could plan. Or because no definite set amount of hours per week has been agreed within the contract, would I be able to refuse work?

Or am I missing the point entirely! Any thoughts would be gratefully received. 

Thanks

DullGreyGuy

What was the conversation with them when you interviewed about hours etc?  Will you be on shifts? Rota-ed? 

If there are no hours specified in the contract then in principle its zero hours. Hour rate just is a basis of calculating how much you will be paid which equally applies to zero hour and fixed hour contracts. 

Zero hour is not legally defined and so whilst there are some common themes not all zero hour contracts are the same. You should certainly check the contract about your ability to turn down work offered. 

Many years ago a former employer offered contracts which could be anything from 15 to 35 hours but all contracts stated you had to be available to work a minimum of 5 hours overtime a week. Pay up to 40 hrs a week was standard rate and over 40hrs was 1.5x. 

Each week they'd put up the overtime requirements for the following week and you had to mark your name against which ones you wanted and then would be confirmed on the Friday which you were doing. Those on 35 hrs never got more than 5 hrs in all but the most extreme circumstances (ie no 1.5x). As long as you volunteered for 5 hours you were ok, if you didnt then you got a talking to, then to the centre manager and then HR for disciplinary. 

Marcon

skinflynt said:

Hi all,

I'm trying to understand what the difference(s) are, if any, between a zero hour contract and a paid by the hour contract and if it even applies to my situation!

My contract states "that on average you will be required to work up to 30 hours per week".  I'm presuming that means that on some weeks they could offer nothing at all if they so wished? What would happen then regarding pay? The contract specifies pay rate by the hour but no other details. 

Also, would it mean that I have to always be available for up to 30 hours per week regardless of if they decide to offer it or not?  This would have real issues as it would limit any other work I could plan. Or because no definite set amount of hours per week has been agreed within the contract, would I be able to refuse work?

Or am I missing the point entirely! Any thoughts would be gratefully received. 

Thanks

If that's the only reference to hours and pay, it certainly qualifies as gloriously vague! What else, if anything, does the contract say about overall remuneration?