20 July 2026
The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) has announced a new consultation seeking views on the practical details of implementing new rights aimed at tackling one-sided flexibility in zero-hours and similar contracts.
One of the key areas covered by the consultation is the proposed right to guaranteed hours. The right is intended to support workers whose contractual hours do not reflect the hours they regularly work in practice. Under the proposal, eligible workers would be entitled to receive an offer of a guaranteed hours contract based on their working pattern, which they could choose to accept or decline.
A worker would be in scope of the right to guaranteed hours if:
- they are guaranteed no hours (that is, they are a zero hours worker), or
- if they are guaranteed a number of hours during the reference period up to and including a maximum number outlined in regulations, referred to as the ‘hours threshold’.
Example: If the hours threshold was set at 12 hours per week, any worker on a contract guaranteeing 12 hours or fewer per week would be in scope of the right to guaranteed hours. Any worker guaranteed more than 12 hours per week during the reference period would be out of scope of this right.
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