Glossary · UK
What is Zero Hours Contract Rights?
The employment rights of workers on zero-hours contracts, including minimum wage, holiday pay, and from 2026 the right to request guaranteed hours after 12 weeks.
Full Definition
A zero-hours contract is an employment or worker arrangement in which the employer is not obliged to offer any minimum number of working hours, and the worker is generally not obliged to accept work when offered. Despite the name, workers on zero-hours contracts hold significant employment rights from day one. They are entitled to the National Living Wage or National Minimum Wage (depending on age) for all hours worked, paid annual leave of at least 5.6 weeks per year (calculated on average hours worked over a 52-week reference period), protection against unlawful discrimination, protection from dismissal for asserting statutory rights, and access to Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) if they meet the qualifying earnings threshold. The Employment Rights Act 2025 (the "Employment Rights Bill" receiving Royal Assent) is introducing significant new rights for zero-hours workers: employers will be required to offer guaranteed hours contracts to workers who have worked regular patterns over a 12-week qualifying period. Workers retain the right to decline the offer and remain on zero hours if they prefer. Exclusivity clauses in zero-hours contracts -- terms that prevent the worker from working for another employer -- were made unenforceable in 2015. Employers must also give reasonable notice of shifts and compensate workers for shifts cancelled or curtailed at short notice, under provisions expected to come into force in 2026.