Zero-hours work in the Employment Rights Act 2025 – King’s Law Journal
‘The term “zero hours” is generally used to describe a form of work in which the employer does not guarantee the worker any particular amount of work, or any work at all. This enables the employer to tailor the supply of labour very precisely to its needs. For example, if the workplace is getting busy, more workers can be called in, but if it is quiet, their shifts can be cancelled or terminated early. Sophisticated algorithms can be used to predict the need for workers, taking into account factors such as consumer demand or the weather. Workers in these arrangements often find that they are given very little notice of work opportunities or changes to their schedule. Platform work is a specific modern incarnation of zero-hours working: the employer offers work opportunities, which may be accepted by any worker who is signed up to the employer’s platform and logged in to the app at the time. There is no guarantee that any work will be offered, and workers may spend a lot of time waiting for work opportunities to become available at short notice, or competing with other workers to secure them.’
King's Law Journal, 31st May 2026
Source: doi.org
