Protection for zero-hour contract workers

13 January 2016

The Exclusivity Terms in Zero Hour Contracts (Redress) Regulations 2015 have now come into force and provide that:

• any dismissal of a zero hour contract employee is automatically unfair, if the principal reason is that s/he breached a contractual clause prohibiting him/her from working for another employer
• no qualifying period is required to bring such an unfair dismissal claim; and,
• it is also unlawful to submit a zero hour worker (note: worker not employee) to detriments if they work for another employer in breach of a clause prohibiting them from doing so.

With thanks to Daniel Barnett’s employment law bulletin for putting this information into layman’s terms.

Further information

In October 2015 the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills published up to date guidance on zero hours contracts which includes what they are, how they affect employment rights and appropriate use and best practice.