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Create Zero Hours Contracts

Build a flexible, agile workforce with Zero Hours Contracts for temporary, seasonal and short-term workers. Quickly create and customise contracts to clarify your responsibilities and what workers can expect from you.

Zero Hours Contracts

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  • How to create your Zero Hours Contract...

    • Create your SeedLegals account

    • Go to Agreements and choose Zero Hours Contract

    • Choose terms to include

    • Get unlimited help from our experts

    • Send, sign and store the contract

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    Contracts for your casual staff

    Employ extra help when you need it. Use our Zero Hours Contract template to create flexible agreements, customised to suit your company.

    • tickCreate a pool of casual workers
    • tickSet out the rights for your workers
    • tick Clarify how you’ll work together
    Zero Hours Contracts
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    Need some help? Not sure if you should use an Employment Agreement or a Zero Hours Contract? Our team of legal experts are on hand to chat online, by phone or video call.

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    FAQs - Zero Hours Contracts


    • What is a Zero Hours Contract?

      A Zero Hours Contract (ZHC) is a flexible agreement between a company and an individual. It's a type of employment contract, but it's more casual because there's no guarantee of a set number of hours or any ongoing or future work.
      With a Zero Hours Contract, the individual is called a 'worker' rather than an 'employee'.
    • When should I use a Zero Hours Contract?

      Zero Hours Contracts are helpful when you need to develop an agile and flexible workforce, for example:
      • if your busy times fluctuate
      • if you can’t predict how many workers you might need
      • if your business has seasonal peaks and troughs
      • if you sometimes need to bring people in temporarily or at short notice

      Zero Hours Contracts are particularly useful for certain types of business which need a pool of people who are happy to work flexibly. For example, if you hire hospitality staff for special events or seasonal work, or you use delivery drivers but don't need them permanently or full time.

      Remember that someone employed on a Zero Hours Contract still has certain employment rights. In particular, they’re entitled to receive at least the National Minimum Wage, and they must not be unfairly dismissed or subject to discrimination.
    • What are some key differences between Zero Hours Contracts and Employment Agreements?

      • The individual is a worker
        It’s important to know that the person you’re contracting is a 'worker' not an 'employee'.
      • There's no obligation on either side
        The company doesn’t have to offer work, and the worker doesn’t have to accept work offered to them.
      • You can’t insist on exclusivity
        The contract can't include clauses about exclusivity. The worker can carry out duties for multiple employees if they want to, and shouldn't be discriminated against or treated unfairly if they do.
    • What are UK workers entitled to under a Zero Hours Contract?

      • Workers must be paid at least the National Minimum Wage for each hour they work

      • Workers are entitled to sick pay and rest breaks in line with standard employment law

      • Workers are entitled to paid time off for every hour that they work

      • All workers are entitled to protection from discrimination, including the right not to be unfairly dismissed.
    • Why would a worker choose a Zero Hours Contract?

      A worker on a Zero Hours Contract sits somewhere between being employed and self-employed.

      A Zero Hours Contract offers workers the flexibility they wouldn't have if they were bound by regular days and hours. They can turn work down if they’re busy, or accept work outside the standard 9-to-5 hours that many employers expect.

      A worker on a Zero Hours Contract can work as many or as few hours as they like (as long as the work is available). They can also work for more than one employer. This type of contract gives workers more freedom, more variety, and the chance to boost their income with several jobs.

      As an employer, if your workers are on Zero Hours Contracts you're not allowed to tie them into an exclusivity clause. And it's unlawful to discriminate against the worker because they're working for someone else.
    • When should I not use a Zero Hours Contract?

      Zero Hours Contracts are ideal for some circumstances but they shouldn't be used if there's a better alternative.

      Sometimes it might be more appropriate to offer a part-time, full-time, fixed-term or permanent Employment Agreement or to pay overtime to existing staff if you're entering a phase you know will be busy.

      When you create a Employment Agreement with SeedLegals, you can ask us for help to make the terms best suited to your business. You could also consider using agency staff if you need workers quickly or for only a short time.

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