This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-23570345
The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Zero-hours contracts 'more widespread than thought' | Zero-hours contracts 'more widespread than thought' |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| More than a million UK workers are on zero-hours contracts with no guarantees of shifts or work patterns - four times official estimates, research suggests. | More than a million UK workers are on zero-hours contracts with no guarantees of shifts or work patterns - four times official estimates, research suggests. |
| A survey of 1,000 employers by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development indicated 3-4% of the whole workforce were on such contracts. | A survey of 1,000 employers by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development indicated 3-4% of the whole workforce were on such contracts. |
| Some 14% of affected staff could not earn a basic standard of living. | Some 14% of affected staff could not earn a basic standard of living. |
| A review of the contracts by Business Secretary Vince Cable is already under way, amid union calls to ban them. | A review of the contracts by Business Secretary Vince Cable is already under way, amid union calls to ban them. |
| Despite controversy over their use, just 16% of those affected said their employer often fails to provide them with sufficient hours each week. | |
| This was higher amongst those who described themselves as part-time, where 38% said they would like to work more hours. | This was higher amongst those who described themselves as part-time, where 38% said they would like to work more hours. |
| Under zero-hours contracts employees agree to be available for work as and when it is required. | Under zero-hours contracts employees agree to be available for work as and when it is required. |
| Figures from the Office for National Statistics last week suggested 250,000 workers were on zero-hours contracts. | Figures from the Office for National Statistics last week suggested 250,000 workers were on zero-hours contracts. |
| The news emerged as it was reported that part-time staff at retailer Sports Direct and a number of London councils were among those employed on such terms. | The news emerged as it was reported that part-time staff at retailer Sports Direct and a number of London councils were among those employed on such terms. |
| Fluctuating wages | Fluctuating wages |
| According to the CIPD's research, firms in the voluntary and public sectors were more likely to use zero-hours contracts than those in the private sector. | According to the CIPD's research, firms in the voluntary and public sectors were more likely to use zero-hours contracts than those in the private sector. |
| The industries where employers were most likely to report having at least one person on a zero-hours contracts were hotels, catering and leisure, education and healthcare. | The industries where employers were most likely to report having at least one person on a zero-hours contracts were hotels, catering and leisure, education and healthcare. |
| The CPID said one in five employers in the UK had at least one person on a zero-hours contract. This means workers can be officially counted as employed, but have no guaranteed paid work and can be sent home from their workplace without warning and without having earned anything. | The CPID said one in five employers in the UK had at least one person on a zero-hours contract. This means workers can be officially counted as employed, but have no guaranteed paid work and can be sent home from their workplace without warning and without having earned anything. |
| While zero-hours contracts may suit some due to the flexibility they provide, critics point out that the system can lead to fluctuating wages and a risk that managers may use their contract as both reward and punishment. | While zero-hours contracts may suit some due to the flexibility they provide, critics point out that the system can lead to fluctuating wages and a risk that managers may use their contract as both reward and punishment. |
| Rochelle Monte is a care worker on a zero-hours contract in Newcastle and she told Radio 4's Today Programme that she gave her employer details of her availability and then had to "hope for the best". | |
| "It can change dramatically over the space of a week. | |
| "So you might start off a week thinking you've got 40 hours, but by the end of the week you could be down to 12," she said. | |
| Colin Angel from the UK Homecare Association said zero hours contracts were a response to the way that local authorities commissioned home care services. | |
| "Councils buy 70-odd percent of all hours of home care - and it's proved to be the way that you can retain a workforce who are available very flexibly whose hours can change over a month. | |
| "[It] works well for care workers who largely appreciate the flexibility that their contracts have," he said. | |
| At places of employment found to be using the contracts, the average number of workers who were on them was around 16%, according to CIPD. | At places of employment found to be using the contracts, the average number of workers who were on them was around 16%, according to CIPD. |
| Based on these figures, CIPD calculated that between 3% and 4% of all workers were on zero-hour contracts - equating to a million people in the UK labour force. | Based on these figures, CIPD calculated that between 3% and 4% of all workers were on zero-hour contracts - equating to a million people in the UK labour force. |
| The employees who took part in the poll worked an average of just under 20 hours a week and were most likely to be aged between 18 and 24 or over 55. | The employees who took part in the poll worked an average of just under 20 hours a week and were most likely to be aged between 18 and 24 or over 55. |
| Further data on 148 employees with zero-hours contracts showed that 14% reported their employer often or very often failed to provide them with sufficient hours to sustain a basic standard of living. | Further data on 148 employees with zero-hours contracts showed that 14% reported their employer often or very often failed to provide them with sufficient hours to sustain a basic standard of living. |
| Some 38% described themselves as employed full-time, working 30 hours or more a week. | Some 38% described themselves as employed full-time, working 30 hours or more a week. |
| Flexibility for employers | Flexibility for employers |
| CIPD chief executive Peter Cheese said the reason his survey showed up to four more times the number of people on zero hour contracts compared to official figures could be down to a lack of precision in the measurement, as well as confusion over definitions. | |
| "I think even sometimes employers themselves are not fully clear on the absolute nature of their contracts and whether it is genuinely zero hours," he said. | |
| "There does need to be a closer look at what is meant by a zero-hours contract, the different forms that they take, and clearer guidance on what good and bad practice in their use looks like. | |
| "Zero-hours contracts, used appropriately, can provide flexibility for employers and employees and can play a positive role in creating more flexible working opportunities. | "Zero-hours contracts, used appropriately, can provide flexibility for employers and employees and can play a positive role in creating more flexible working opportunities. |
| "However, for some this may be a significant disadvantage where they need more certainty in their working hours and earnings... Zero-hours contracts cannot be used simply to avoid an employer's responsibilities to its employees." | "However, for some this may be a significant disadvantage where they need more certainty in their working hours and earnings... Zero-hours contracts cannot be used simply to avoid an employer's responsibilities to its employees." |
| The University and College Union said such contracts used among teaching staff denied them financial security or stability and left students without continuity. | The University and College Union said such contracts used among teaching staff denied them financial security or stability and left students without continuity. |
| Dave Prentis, general secretary of the Unison union, said: "The vast majority of workers are only on these contracts because they have no choice. They may give flexibility to a few, but the balance of power favours the employers and makes it hard for workers to complain." | Dave Prentis, general secretary of the Unison union, said: "The vast majority of workers are only on these contracts because they have no choice. They may give flexibility to a few, but the balance of power favours the employers and makes it hard for workers to complain." |
| He added: "The growing number of zero-hours contracts also calls into question government unemployment figures." | He added: "The growing number of zero-hours contracts also calls into question government unemployment figures." |
| 'Anecdotal evidence' | 'Anecdotal evidence' |
| Business Secretary Vince Cable said: "For some these can be the right sort of employment contract, giving workers a choice of working patterns. | Business Secretary Vince Cable said: "For some these can be the right sort of employment contract, giving workers a choice of working patterns. |
| "However for a contract that is now more widely used, we know relatively little about its effect... There has been anecdotal evidence of abuse by certain employers - including in the public sector." | "However for a contract that is now more widely used, we know relatively little about its effect... There has been anecdotal evidence of abuse by certain employers - including in the public sector." |
| Mr Cable went on: "While it's important our workforce remains flexible, it is equally important that it is treated fairly. This is why I have asked my officials to undertake some work over the summer to better understand how this type of contract is working in practice today." | Mr Cable went on: "While it's important our workforce remains flexible, it is equally important that it is treated fairly. This is why I have asked my officials to undertake some work over the summer to better understand how this type of contract is working in practice today." |
| But shadow business secretary Chuka Umunna said zero-hours contracts should be the exception to the rule and called for a formal consultation. | But shadow business secretary Chuka Umunna said zero-hours contracts should be the exception to the rule and called for a formal consultation. |
| He said: "While some employees welcome the flexibility of such contracts, for many zero-hours contracts leave them insecure, unsure of when work will come, and undermining family life. | He said: "While some employees welcome the flexibility of such contracts, for many zero-hours contracts leave them insecure, unsure of when work will come, and undermining family life. |
| "The 'review' the business secretary has established into zero-hours contracts is clearly inadequate given the seriousness of this issue and the mounting evidence of the abuse of zero-hours contracts." | "The 'review' the business secretary has established into zero-hours contracts is clearly inadequate given the seriousness of this issue and the mounting evidence of the abuse of zero-hours contracts." |