The government has been in consultation about the use of zero hours contracts following calls from the opposition and the unions for a ban. The contracts do not guarantee a worker any minimum working hours.
Although an outright ban has been and continues to be resisted by the government (a position supported by employer groups such as the Institute of Directors and Chamber of Commerce) it has now announced a prospective ban on exclusivity clauses, which seek to prevent the worker from working elsewhere.
While the timing and detail of the ban is awaited, we are advising clients who use zero hours contracts to undertake a pre-emptive review of their terms and unwritten practices surrounding exclusivity, such as withholding further offers of work.
The contents of this article are intended for general information purposes only and shall not be deemed to be, or constitute legal advice. We cannot accept responsibility for any loss as a result of acts or omissions taken in respect of this article.
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