zero hours contract

[Pebble Communications]

My son is on a zero hours contract at a shop that has not given him any work at all for the past month. He needs an income (obviously) and would like to sign on again for Jobseekers while looking for a better job. But he thinks that if he leaves he will be counted as deliberately unemployed and not be eligible. Does any one know about this? How can they say he has left a job voluntarily if there is no actual work for over a month? The company refuses to officially 'dismiss' him.

 

[mcjoyes]

Unfortunately, in a nutshell, with a zero hour contract the employer has no obligation to offer any set number of hours, and many employment rights do not apply (there is some debate as to whether in legal terms it constitutes a form of employment at all).


Your son should approach the Job Centre before submitting his notice, and let his advisor know the situation - they should be more than understanding.

They may ask for some form of evidence however.

 

[bwglaw]

With zero-hour contracts the employer is not obliged to work and the worker is not obliged to accept any work. He would only be technically employed when he is given an assignment by the employer to perform, not by merely issuing the contract.

Jonathan

PS. Matt, are you based at Derby CVS?

 

[Pebble Communications]

Thanks for the info, I'll let him know and get him off to the Job Centre.

 

[bwglaw]

I would add that your son should be able to claim JSA in between where he is not performing any work for the employer. DWP will expect your son to report each fortnight any work he has done and this will reflect in any JSA payment.

In my opinion, these zero-hours contracts are impractical

Jonathan