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The GBC requires a fair approach to zero hours contracts, including fair shift scheduling and cancellation policy, and proper consideration given to contracts with guaranteed hours.

Fairer Hours and Contracts

The GBC requires a fair approach to zero hours contracts, including fair shift scheduling and cancellation policy, and proper consideration given to contracts with guaranteed hours.

Impact – Why Fairer Hours and Contracts Matter

Workers in insecure work such as zero hours contracts (common in agriculture, healthcare and hospitality) struggle to budget as their income differs each month. This also makes it difficult for them to secure a tenancy or mortgage. In some situations, workers find shifts cancelled last minute, but not paid, when they may still incur childcare costs, for example.

They are vulnerable, often denied other rights such as annual leave and sick leave, and often on the lowest paid wages, leading to an inability to afford the basics.

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Our Stance On – Platform Economics

We welcome efforts to improve the employment rights of gig economy and platform economy companies and ensure platform work is decent work.

A gig or platform economy company would be able to join the Good Business Charter if they were able to ensure employees were receiving the real living wage, had guaranteed work with security of contract, had their wellbeing properly cared for (not just via an online platform), a voice – and the ability to unionise if employees wished to – and appropriate measures to ensure diversity and inclusion in the workforce. This will be a challenge for the industry in its current state but we are hopeful that things will improve to show that a platform economy company can also champion responsible business behaviour.