Zero Hours Contract
A zero hours contract is a type of employment contract under which the employer is not obliged to offer any minimum number of working hours, and the worker is not obliged to accept any hours offered. Workers on zero hours contracts are still entitled to most employment rights including the National Minimum Wage, holiday pay, and protection from unlawful discrimination. The Worker Protection Act 2023 limits the use of exclusivity clauses in zero hours contracts.
Zero-hours contracts allow employers to offer work without guaranteeing minimum hours. Workers on these contracts are entitled to the National Living/Minimum Wage for all hours worked, 5.6 weeks' paid holiday per year (pro-rated to hours worked), and rest break rights. They cannot be required to work exclusively for one employer (exclusivity clauses in zero-hours contracts are unenforceable under the Employment Rights Act 1996 as amended). The Employment Rights Act 2025 introduces new rights for zero-hours workers, including the right to request a more predictable working pattern and (under proposed measures) the right to a guaranteed-hours contract offer after 12 weeks. Workers misclassified as self-employed when they are in practice workers can bring claims in the Employment Tribunal for NMW arrears and unpaid holiday pay. Contact Acas (0300 123 1100) for free advice.