Election results 2024: What changes can employers expect?

Zero hour contracts

Labour plans to ban ‘exploitative’ zero hours contracts and give workers the right to a contract reflecting the number of hours they regularly work, based on a 12-week reference period.

Workers will also be entitled to reasonable notice of any change in shifts or working time, with compensation proportionate to the notice given for any shifts cancelled or curtailed. Workers will continue to have the right to be paid overtime and employers will still be able to offer fixed term contracts, including seasonal work.

It is not clear what ‘exploitative’ will mean, but businesses will need to consider their options if they engage anyone on these types of contracts at present.

Workers are due to acquire the right to request a more predictable work pattern in September this year, under legislation passed by the Conservative Government. It is not clear whether Labour will bring this into force or scrap this in favour of its ban on “exploitative” zero hours contracts.