Workers With Regular Shifts To Get More Rights

Workers on zero hours contracts and other staff with settled shift patterns are set to be given the legal right to ask their employer to change their contract.

The Social Security Minister is proposing a change to employment laws.

It would mean employees on zero hours contracts given the chance to revise their contracts with their bosses.

Under the proposal, if someone works a regular weekly shift pattern, they can ask their employer to change their contract to reflect this. 

An example of this is where a person works more than 16 hours on a Saturday or Sunday consistently for six months.

Other staff who are not on zero hours contracts would also be able to request a change to their terms and conditions if have a consistent work pattern.

It could apply, for instance, where someone is contracted to work three says a week and in practice always works Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday.

There would be a presumption for changing the contract, and employers would been strong evidence and solid reasoning to refuse a request.

If refused, a worker could ask for the decision to be reviewed and could make a claim to the Employment Forum.

If granted, employers would have four weeks to provide a revised contract, or risk a £10,000 fine.

The changes follow a report by the Employment Forum on the use of zero-hours contracts, which made several recommendations.