Sum of the zero-hours game

Zero-hours employment contracts have garnered much negative press over the years, with many arguing they are exploitative and offer employees little security in an ever-turbulent employment market.

However, some employers find such contracts beneficial for managing fluctuating workloads or seasonal peaks. Equally, there are many personnel who appreciate the flexibility that a zero-hours contract can offer them with regard to study or childcare. So, is the furore merely just a matter of misunderstanding exactly what employing staff on a zero-hours contract means in practice?

A zero-hours contract is a non-legal term for an agreement between two parties through which one is asked to undertake work for the other but with no set minimum number of contractual hours.