not tallking agency just to clarify.
So, some firms offer zero hours contracts and I wonder which is the customary approach, do they pay same hourly rate as the full-timers? or does not necessarily have to be the same deal?
Typically as a 0 hrs contract, you’d be an employee so same everything, after any probationer period obviously.
That’s one of the non-agency benefits.
I have no experience of this so please excuse me if I have this wrong but as a full time employee on a zero hours contract the employer has the ability to pick you up and put you down at will with no pay for the days you don’t actually work? Am I correct in that assumption?
As an agency driver you have the ability and right to work elsewhere on your “off days”, but I’m assuming that as a full time employee on a zero hour contract that it’s written into your contract that you cannot drive for anyone else?
If I’m correct in my assumption then my question would be why? Why would anybody allow themselves to be treated thus?
If I’ve misunderstood the whole concept then please feel free to correct me.
Currently:
Quote "Zero-hours workers are entitled to statutory annual leave and the National Minimum Wage in the same way as regular workers.
You cannot do anything to stop a zero-hours worker from getting work elsewhere. The law says they can ignore a clause in their contract if it bans them from:
- looking for work
- accepting work from another employer"
- Contract types and employer responsibilities: Zero-hours contracts - GOV.UK
And proposed:
Quote "The government’s Employment Rights Bill will help to ensure that work provides a baseline of security and predictability so that workers can better plan their lives and finances. The government is tackling one-sided flexibility in zero-hours contracts through 2 measures:
a right to guaranteed hours, where the number of hours offered reflects the hours worked by the worker during a reference period; this initial reference period will be specified in regulations and is anticipated to be 12 weeks
a right to reasonable notice of shifts and a right to payment for shifts cancelled or curtailed at short notice"
from Consultation on the application of zero-hours contracts measures to agency workers (web accessible version) - GOV.UK
Fair enough 
I happily stand corrected
So I guess that as a logical progression why would any company offer a zero hours contract when there is nothing in it for them?
the case I know of was doing weekends and sometimes asked for an extra day, so it was convenient for both; and that would suit me as the haulier is not the Culina-type, meaning keeping a fair degree of both honesty and sensible approach to matters.
The pay, I wonder about the pay
Depends on the Contract of Employment. Since you seem to have a particular place in mind? Ask them.
Taking on an odd Saturday shift for a different employer? I wouldn’t call that a zero hrs contract. And any driver in other full employment should be very careful. Their regular employer might well demand full knowledge of other work to ensure all Driving and WTD rules are obeyed.
Previously I believe that employers could specify that “staff” could not take on other work. That way they had a pool of workers available that cost the tapayers money, but not them…
If/When the newer rules come in than zero hours may just fade away. As you say there will then be nowt in it for employers.
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Isn’t zero hours just ad- hock , ad hock normally gets paid more as you might get a phone call for work , you might not , so you get the extra pay for the inconvience
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In the past it has mostly been the poorest and most desperate workers who get offered zero hrs contracts. Bar staff, cleaners etc. Those who are “prepared to get of bed” for less than most lorry drivers etc.
We aren’t generally talking about the semi-retired etc who can afford to choose whether or not to work, but those who want full time work, but don’t get offered it because employers could take workers off the shelf at short notice, and at zero cost. If there was no work they could claim unemployment.
Try this from last year Zero-hours contracts: Workers react to the ban - BBC News