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| Zero-hour contracts: your experiences | Zero-hour contracts: your experiences |
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| It emerged on Monday that Sports Direct's entire part-time workforce is on zero-hour contracts and will miss out on the £100,000 bonuses reserved for full-time staff. | It emerged on Monday that Sports Direct's entire part-time workforce is on zero-hour contracts and will miss out on the £100,000 bonuses reserved for full-time staff. |
| This means 90% of the company's employees won't be entitled to the big bonus, are unsure of their hours week by week, and are not entitled to sick or holiday pay. | This means 90% of the company's employees won't be entitled to the big bonus, are unsure of their hours week by week, and are not entitled to sick or holiday pay. |
| Politicians have been calling for employers to use part-time contracts with guaranteed hours rather than zero-hours - which cause uncertainty for workers, whose jobs can be cut with less than a day's notice. | Politicians have been calling for employers to use part-time contracts with guaranteed hours rather than zero-hours - which cause uncertainty for workers, whose jobs can be cut with less than a day's notice. |
| In comments Guardian readers have been sharing their experiences of zero-hours contracts: | In comments Guardian readers have been sharing their experiences of zero-hours contracts: |
| ID412991 writes: | ID412991 writes: |
Where I work 80% of the carers are on zero hour contracts. It is common practice for staff to be sent home with no warning after either driving or catching a bus to work if the manager decides they are not required or if a client decides on another activity. | Where I work 80% of the carers are on zero hour contracts. It is common practice for staff to be sent home with no warning after either driving or catching a bus to work if the manager decides they are not required or if a client decides on another activity. |
| Carers with children cannot plan childcare as they have no idea when they will be required or for how long. They are lucky if a duty rota is issued for a week ahead. | Carers with children cannot plan childcare as they have no idea when they will be required or for how long. They are lucky if a duty rota is issued for a week ahead. |
| Management totally abuse the fact that people need work and are prepared to put up with being treated abysmally. | Management totally abuse the fact that people need work and are prepared to put up with being treated abysmally. |
| If you fall out of favour with managers your hours will be reduced to nil for a few weeks while others find themselves loaded down with 40-50 hour weeks, all the time with no sick pay or holiday requirement. | If you fall out of favour with managers your hours will be reduced to nil for a few weeks while others find themselves loaded down with 40-50 hour weeks, all the time with no sick pay or holiday requirement. |
| ALikelyLad writes: | ALikelyLad writes: |
| I worked for the co-op on a zero hour contract for six years during college and then through university. They would always let the students pick up hours when we were home on holiday, and they were incredibly flexible about the hours we worked. I never saw any full time year round staff on zero hour contracts, but this is purely anecdotal. | I worked for the co-op on a zero hour contract for six years during college and then through university. They would always let the students pick up hours when we were home on holiday, and they were incredibly flexible about the hours we worked. I never saw any full time year round staff on zero hour contracts, but this is purely anecdotal. |
| These contracts are definitely not suitable for people looking for full time employment, but there are some situations where they may be appropriate. | These contracts are definitely not suitable for people looking for full time employment, but there are some situations where they may be appropriate. |
| flight2safety writes: | flight2safety writes: |
| By working on Zero contract hours you are incapable of organising a functioning family life. Your ability to keep your promise to be at your children's school production or watch your 9 year old sons first football game becomes secondary to your employers whims. | By working on Zero contract hours you are incapable of organising a functioning family life. Your ability to keep your promise to be at your children's school production or watch your 9 year old sons first football game becomes secondary to your employers whims. |
| What are your experiences of working zero-hours contracts? Share yours in a comment below or you can contact our reporter about this directly by emailing simon.neville@theguardian.com |