UK Recruitment Glossary
Zero-Hours Contract
In recruiter context
Common in retail, hospitality, social care, and some agency work. UK zero-hours workers still get statutory rights: minimum wage, statutory sick pay (if eligible), holiday pay (calculated pro-rata), and protection from discrimination. They don't get redundancy pay (no role to make redundant), and they're typically not eligible for tenancy applications, mortgages, or many salary-based products. Banned from being 'exclusive' since 2015 — you're allowed to work for other employers. The Workers Bill 2024-25 introduced a right to request guaranteed hours after 12 weeks of regular work, which is the biggest shift in this area in a decade.
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