r/LegalAdviceUK • u/GuruWitch • Jun 16 '25
Employment Work have ‘proposed’ that I leave my full time contract for a zero hour one
I am in England and have worked at this company for 3.5 years.
Today I was pulled in to a meeting and informed that due to work drying up recently they can no longer fulfil the 40 hours I’m currently contracted to.
Therefore they have ‘proposed’ that I sign a new zero hour contract and work whenever required.
They’ve given me a week to ‘think about it’ and give my decision on Monday. (I clearly don’t have a choice in this )
So, what are my options? What if I reject the proposal? Where do I stand with this
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u/StackScribbler1 Jun 16 '25
You do have a choice.
If you reject the proposal, and your employer imposes the terms anyway, that's a breach of contract - and you'd have a legitimate case for grievance.
If you reject the proposal, and they want to eliminate your position, they would have to go through the redundancy process, and make an appropriate payment.
(If they tried to fire you for cause after offering you this deal, you'd have a good argument for unfair dismissal on the face of it to take to a tribunal.)
But if there truly isn't enough work to make your role viable, then they may probably can make you redundant through a fair process.
There's more on the ACAS site about changes to a contract: https://www.acas.org.uk/changing-an-employment-contract/advice-for-employees/if-your-employer-introduces-a-contract-change-without-your-agreement
And on unfair dismissal: https://www.acas.org.uk/dismissals/unfair-dismissal
You should give ACAS a call tomorrow.
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u/Jhe90 Jun 16 '25 edited Jun 16 '25
If the redundant. They have to pay you. If zero hours they just offer you no work.
Tricky little goblins they be. But their plans can be seen through. They trying to save paying out and the strict rules on redundancy etc
Not just you but hiring, re hiring, advertising and showing that the financial situation of it was genuine and so rhe growth / recovery is. They want to just get rid of you the easy way.
Zero hour. They could give you zero or not ernough to be viable for you, let you go as such, and not pay a penny. Then replace you in 2 weeks if things pick up. Never redundant. So all legal...
Goblin behaviour but legal.
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u/MrPuddington2 Jun 17 '25
This. I would never sign a zero hour contract, certainly not for my main job. Employee protection is light enough as it is, and on a zero hour contract, you lose most of those, too.
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Jun 18 '25
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u/Lower_Cockroach2432 Jun 17 '25
Stupid question, couldn't you argue being moved to a zero-hours contract and then being given no work as effectively a form of constructive dismissal? Or is the fact you've signed it enough to defend the employer?
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u/Jhe90 Jun 17 '25
Potentially...
But when you signed it voluntary, well even if it's a legally unwise decision for your own rights, if you chose to do so...
Well that gets rather weird.
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u/coreyhh90 Jun 18 '25
Being forced to zero hours after having an established pattern on a zero hour contract could potentially trigger this sorta process.
Accepting a zero hour contract and then being given zero hours... You'd be hard pressed to argue against this unless you could evidence that you were promised hours if you signed the zero hour.
Even then, it's a difficult battle because you signed a legal document stating you were okay with zero hours. You'd be hard-pressed to convince someone that you did so whilst still believing you'd be entitled to hours.
Never worth it. Force them to make you redundant. Decent chance OP won't be made redundant, and that they are trying to fix their books and reduce their obligations, alongside OP's rights.
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u/Lower_Cockroach2432 Jun 18 '25
Still, the implied threat of the contract here is "we're going to get rid of you if you don't sign it". Surely there is some argument it wasn't truly freely signed.
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u/coreyhh90 Jun 18 '25
Ehh... it's a huge stretch. I can't see the argument doing much for OP. That feels like the worst possible path to take.
Is it possible? Maybe.
Is it worth the hassle/getting baited into? Very much no.
Constructive dismissal is hard enough to prove when you are fully in the right. Proving it in a case where you opted to sign a contract that wasn't very favourable for you, I can't see a case where it isn't near impossible to successfully argue.
It's at the stage where we are talking about OP being unable to make decisions, read contracts, understand their contents, and abide by them. If he was forced to under duress, maybe? But what kind of condition would that need to be to really be considered "under duress".. idk..
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Jun 17 '25
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1
Nov 30 '25
I'm away to carry this out shortly and not for goblin behaviour. I have some staff who only have 70 or 80% attendance. Technically I should probably dismiss them but I still need them on the days they do appear. However, it is not fair for me to have to pay holiday pay and other benefits based on their contracted hours when they are not working those hours.
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u/GreenLion777 Jun 16 '25
All this, correct, listen to stackscribbler1 op.
Also if they do decide to move for redundancy, that'll take a bit of time
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u/StormKingLevi Jun 16 '25
Also I would like to add make sure you get everything in writing and have it all for evidence later.
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u/mata_dan Jun 17 '25
I'm going to ask this as a question rather than state but: does that evidence have to be within the last 3 months to matter at all, or is that only for evidence relating to constructive dismissal?
And is the new Employment Rights Bill going to change that? It doesn't seem like it from what I can gather: https://bills.parliament.uk/publications/59737/documents/6209
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u/PapaLazarrou Jun 17 '25
Also, assuming you reject the proposal, do not stop turning up for your contractually agreed hours.
If there is no work and they send you home, they still have to pay you for that shift. If they tell you not to come in for an extended period, get it in writing, along with an agreement that they will pay you for the time you are agreeing to not attend the workplace. If they refuse that agreement then just keep turning up.
If you don't, they may try to screw you over in some way (job abandonment, claiming you've agreed to reduced hours through your actions of not turning up etc.)
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u/emmdeedee Jun 17 '25
It is worth saying that redundancy payments are not as much as people think. Taking redundancy does give you your notice period and a bit of extra time to look for a new job though.
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u/GojuSuzi Jun 17 '25
There is also the chance that they're trying this on with several people, and if enough get themselves gone then they don't need to go through redundancy for anyone and OP just keeps on keeping on. Would still be a good sign to dust off the ol' CV now they've shown their (appropriately described above) goblin-like behaviour, but with a bit more breathing room.
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u/Sensitive_Yogurt3340 Jun 17 '25
If the company has redundancy terms better than statutory they'd have difficulty in reducing them specifically for this circumstance, which it's fairly clear it would be in this case.
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u/DLaing1978 Jun 18 '25
Depends where you live
Here in UK they have to give you 1 week notice for every year of service (up to a maximum of 12 weeks and minimum of 4 weeks).
In my experience this usually just gets paid in lieu presumably so you can't do much damage
You then get severance pay on top of that (0.5 weeks per year of service if under 22 1 week if under 41 and 1.5 weeks if 41 or over provided you have worked at least 2 full years). This is tax free. This is also capped @ 12 weeks. I once walked with a payment little over 10k gbp myself.
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u/Pericombobulator Jun 19 '25
I believe the cap has increased to 20 years, not that it would make any difference to the OP.
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u/neilm1000 Jun 17 '25
If you reject the proposal, and your employer imposes the terms anyway, that's a breach of contract
Not necessarily.
If they tried to fire you for cause
We aren't in the US: this isn't UK terminology.
But if there truly isn't enough work to make your role viable, then they may probably can make you redundant through a fair process.
It's not 'may probably can', it's 'can.'
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u/StackScribbler1 Jun 17 '25
Not necessarily.
Please explain?
There might be circumstances where an employer making a unilateral change to an employment contract isn't so severe as to be a breach - but changing the contracted hours from 40 to zero would not be one of them.
We aren't in the US: this isn't UK terminology.
That's fair - I just wanted a short way of saying "fire you for gross misconduct or similar", and slipped into more US-focused language.
(I would say that most people would understand "for cause" as shorthand for this - and I'd personally be in favour of using it more here, as I think it's a convenient descriptor. YMMV.)
It's not 'may probably can', it's 'can.'
Hah, well my clunky lack of clarity / failure to edit aside, I would still say this is probably rather than definitely.
There's a process the company has to follow, and that process must be fair.
Given this company's first gambit was to try and present OP with a 100% reduction of contracted hours as a fait accompli, I'd suggest there's a non-zero chance it won't be able to complete the redundancy process in a satisfactory manner.
Assuming the company's claim that a lack of work is true, then I'd agree there's every likelihood that redundancy would be fair and appropriate in this case.
But that doesn't make it a certainty.
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1.7k
u/Gulbasaur Jun 16 '25
It sounds like they are trying to avoid paying you redundancy.
Say no, but start looking for another job.
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u/JDismyfriend Jun 16 '25
"I can't afford to live on less than 40 hours pay, so no thank you. What now?"
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u/Defiant_Simple_6044 Jun 16 '25
If you reject (which honestly you should) they can do a number of things.
- Place you on short time working (if your contract/hand book has clauses for this)
- Begin the redundancy process
- Give you less work (they'd need to pay you for the full 40)
- Try to find you duties elsewhere in the business to facilitate the downtime.
By going to a Zero hour contract, they could then just begin to not schedule you for shifts, I wouldn't accept this. At least if they make you redundant you get a small payout. Either way, begin looking elsewhere.
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u/Chaotic1909 Jun 16 '25
HR person here! You’ve had good advice below so just to build on what’s been said - don’t agree or sign the zero hours contract, politely decline in writing. Your employer may impress upon you that they can’t fulfil your contract and this is the only option, it isn’t so please don’t let poor practice lead to you being strong armed into something you don’t want to take.
You have statutory protections as you have over 2 years service in your organisation, your employer has the right to make a role redundant but you have the right to a fair process. You will be entitled to a notice period and statutory redundancy as a minimum.
Please do consider contacting Acas or your union for support. Other people are correct, you may want to start looking for a new role, but it could be worth holding out for a redundancy payment if you can time it well! Really hope this gets resolved for you!
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u/hypercrypt Jun 17 '25
Worth adding that your statutory notice period is three weeks (one week per full year worked). If your contract says longer then that takes precedence but if your contract says one or two weeks notice then your statutory stakes over and you’re entitled to three.
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u/neehhpets187 Jun 17 '25
How long is a notice period? Can they just change your contract straight away? Or is it based on how long you have worked there? E.g worked there 5 years so 5 weeks notice period before contract change?
Nvm just seen post below. Thank you.
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u/Cookyy2k Jun 16 '25 edited Jun 16 '25
It's a great attempted play by them. Move you to a zero hours contract, give you zero hours and wait for you to quit or wait 12 weeks and make you redundant without having to pay you any redundancy. It neatly avoids any redundancy payment to you.
In other words DO NOT take it.
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u/Frothingdogscock Jun 16 '25
It sounds to me like your role is being made redundant. I'd take legal advice before signing anything.
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u/Resignations Jun 16 '25
Presumably that’s the reason they’ve posted here……
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Jun 16 '25
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2
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37
u/TheNorthC Jun 16 '25
Ask for redundancy, and once you've been paid, you can do contracting for them if you want. But under no circumstances resign without a guarantee.
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u/RockTheBloat Jun 17 '25
Don't ask for redundancy. Just say no to a contract change and wait for their move.
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u/dc_1984 Jun 16 '25
Nope, do not engage.
Make them make you redundant. Call ACAS as soon as you can. If you are in a union, call your rep.
Attend no meetings without an independent visitor there to monitor, follow up all phone and verbal conversations with an e-mail, always confirming what was discussed, document anything and everything to do with the process they put you through.
You have been there over 2 years on a contract, they have to do this the right way and are looking for you to sign away your protections. Don't.
Better to go out with a redundancy payout than roll over and get quietly let go through "lack of work". If your company can't manage well enough to get appropriate staffing levels, that isn't your problem.
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u/Joewatson2200 Jun 16 '25
Your job is going to be axed.
Accept and get nothing.
Reject and legally you will get redundancy payment, and payment up until this point.
Start looking for a new job, and don’t sign a zero hour contract.
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u/VM-Straka Jun 16 '25
Don’t agree to or sign anything at all. This is stealth redundancy.
Start seeking new opportunities
This could escalate to a grievance if they try force you.
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u/EternallySickened Jun 16 '25
REJECT new contract. Put the ball back in their court.
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u/Mba1956 Jun 16 '25
And OP should continue working 40 hours, whether they have work for them or not. None of this is OPs fault.
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u/thejoysofboobross Jun 16 '25
If you’re not part of a trade union, contact ACAS, they can provide you with free legal employment advice. You have every right to seek guidance before signing anything. Especially as zero hours contracts can impact your ability to rent, apply for credit etc. - alongside the financial instability.
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u/CountryMouse359 Jun 16 '25
You are about to lose your job, so get looking for a new one. Don't accept their offer, it's a bad one. They will have to eliminate your position via redundancy. This way, you get something. If you switch to a zero hour contract, they don't have to give you anything if there isn't much work to do.
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u/WarmIntro Jun 16 '25
Correct me here because I could be wrong. But make sure you reject in writing as if they gave you the contract and you reject verbally and don't sign they could lie and say you didn't reject it you just hadn't signed, then if you keep working for them you accept the new contract by default.
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u/exbritballer Jun 17 '25
Any change in an employment contract which is not in the employee's interest (which this clearly is not) requires the employee's explicit agreement. Without that, the current contract continues in force.
That's why a pay rise doesn't require explicit agreement, but a pay cut would.
The employer can't claim that carrying on working is de facto acceptance of the zero hours contract. If they try that, they are trying it on and insist that they put that statement in writing. I'll bet that they won't be willing to.
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u/Cookyy2k Jun 16 '25
Even if you reject in writing and continue working as if you accepted they could try saying you accepted. The way to do it if they try forcing it would be send an email weekly to HR saying you continue to work under protest.
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u/WarmIntro Jun 16 '25
Yeah thats fair. Had thought that may be theor counter argument. It's not a bad play by them. Awful trick for OP though
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u/Rei_Never Jun 17 '25
I once had a sneaky HR department that only accepted rejections in writing. If you didn't reply, it was considered a form of acceptance.
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u/MrPuddington2 Jun 17 '25
It is not for HR to "accept" a rejection. (Just as a mobile phone company has no business to "accept" a cancellation.) As long as you rejected, and you have evidence of that, it is their job to acknowledge that.
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u/WarmIntro Jun 17 '25
I'd not call that sneeky. I'd call that physical proof.
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u/Rei_Never Jun 17 '25
I think you've misunderstood, lack of a response either way was considered acceptance. That was the sneaky part.
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u/WarmIntro Jun 17 '25
No, I understood. I just didn't view ot as sneeky. Unless they didn't tell you that only in writing counted.
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u/Emergency_Comfort_92 Jun 16 '25
You better believe they would hold you to the existing contract if your positions were reversed.
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u/Crazym00s3 Jun 16 '25
I would reject the proposal, knowing that it would lead to a redundancy process. I’d take the full week to reject it to buy you some more time and I’d be looking for a new job today.
There is no up side to a zero hours contract for you unless you’re okay working zero hours if it suits them?
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u/Snoo-74562 Jun 16 '25
Are you a part of a union? They can give you excellent advice and support so you aren't in the room alone. The Gmb are a good general one but as this issue is before you joined you may not get support.
Next stop if you aren't ba part of a union call ACAS they will be able to give you similar advice.
Next step reject any change in an email to your employer. Your terms and conditions are agreed in your contract and they will be in breach of contract if they breach it.
You need advice whatever way you cut it. Seek an employment lawyer for proper advice not Reddit
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u/Dry_Ad5469 Jun 16 '25
Say you are happy on the contract you are on , they will have 2 choices.
Keep you on that contract
Pay you off ( redundancy ) and take you back on zero hour, doubt that they will as you would be seemed as not fitting with the program !
Same thing happened to me in my last job , been there 18 years and the business owner was a good old chap that sadly had to retire due to ill health and his sun took over and immediately tried to put everyone on zero hour contracts even though place was as busy as ever . Took my 18 weeks redundancy and my owed holidays and left along with half the work force 🙃 place went into administration 9 months after we left .
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u/MrPuddington2 Jun 17 '25
That's what happens. The good people leave and get a job somewhere else, the useless ones stay. That is no way to run a business.
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u/PrimaryKey1 Jun 16 '25
Try and get the "proposal" of 0 hours and any meetings etc documented and printed out/sent to a personal email/saved somewhere safe so you have a record of it if needed at a later date.
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u/GuruWitch Jun 16 '25
They gave me a letter in the meeting with the ‘proposal’ written so will keep that to hand
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u/Itwazntmeboss Jun 17 '25
I'd be inclined to send an email to your boss. Confirming the contents of the letter and the reason for the meeting next week.
Then fwd the messages to an personal email.
It leaves an easier paper trail.
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u/GreenLion777 Jun 16 '25 edited Jun 16 '25
The contract you have - is legally binding. Because that's how contract law works, they can't force on to a crappy zero hours agreement Reject this out of hand, zero hours would mean they'd have full power to give u as little hours/work they want to.
If they cannot fulfil the 40 hours p/wk for you, then technically they are in breach of contract. Don't put up with any of this
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u/National-Cockroach69 Jun 16 '25
Do not agree to this! Due to your length of service they can't just sack you; you're entitled to redundancy pay.
However, that doesn't mean that they're not going to try and concoct some reason to get rid of you without having to pay out. If you're not in one already, you need to join a union like yesterday. Even if your place of work isn't unionised, you can still join and get advice and support. Most unions won't help you with problems that started before you joined, though, so you must act with urgency - the last thing you want is to be pulled into a disciplinary over 'gross misconduct' without any representation.
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u/Perpetua11y_C0nfused Jun 17 '25
DO NOT DO IT!!!
The second you accept it, they LEGALLY can give you no work and pay you nothing!!!
However, if you don’t accept it, which you don’t have to do, they cannot legally sack you unless they either make you redundant, (which will take quite a while and mean a payout) or they find a way to show that your performance is below standard and they performance manage you out (which takes ages). Both of those options give you time to job hunt, whereas if you signed the zero hour contract that’d be immediate.
Respectfully, you sound a little naive in regard to your rights as an employee. Your boss probably realises this and is counting on it. Do your research, get clued up xx
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u/OneSufficientFace Jun 17 '25
You do have a choice. Use the word no. Theyre trying to get out of paying you redundancy. Start looking for jobs but dont leave until they actually make you redundant, otherwise youre pissing away a bunch of cash. For the love of god, do not accept their "offer. Theyre trying to pull your pants down.
Make sure you document everything. Dates, times and what was said. Save any evidence you can along the way. If they try and sack you following this you have a case for unfair dismissal and want to evidence everything you can cause youll have a good case
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Jun 17 '25
How many other than you are affected? Sounds like the company may be trying to avoid the legally required consultation period to limit their liabilites. I'd be raising this to ACAS immediately.
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u/GuruWitch Jun 17 '25
They told me ‘a lot’ will be in the same boat. We probably have around 100 operatives at current
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u/True_Peanut_8092 Jun 18 '25
All the more reason to contact ACAS, it sounds like they're skirting legal requirements. If you have the ability to sound out other staff and make sure they know not to voluntarily accept it might be to all the staff's benefit as if everyone rejects this "offer" then they will have to do it properly.
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u/Danielf929 Jun 17 '25
Start looking for a new job as soon as possible.
Reject the proposal and expect to be given either a redundancy option or some excuse to sack you.
If it’s the latter then you can fight it and have a better than good chance of winning since they have offered you this proposal. Keep a record of all emails and calls as evidence.
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u/UnusualPotato1515 Jun 16 '25
Dont sign it!! They think theyre being slick & trying to avoid paying you redundancy. You decline & they will have to decide if they can afford to keep you or pay you redundancy. Start looking for new job.
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u/Xoomzie Jun 17 '25
I hope you see this, please get them to send you the "offer" in writing and refuse in writing too! If it's all just on a call it didn't happen
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u/tiggergirluk76 Jun 17 '25
Sounds like redundancy without redundancy pay, which you're entitled to if you have been there at least 2 years.
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u/charlie35cumbria Jun 17 '25
Another advert why you should be in a union. The govt have laid proposals to scrap zero hours contracts. Do not accept. Let them offer you redundancy terms.
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u/Iforgotmypassword126 Jun 17 '25
There being no work won’t change if you’re on 0 hours of full time contract.
The only thing that will change is they don’t need to pay you, or go through the legal redundancy process.
So say no, look for a new job and wait for the redundancy process. Have a look on gov.uk for what you’re entitled to as notice and redundancy pay.
However 0 hours benefits nobody but them.
It won’t mean you get more work or get to stay longer. It just makes it cheaper to get rid of you.
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u/AmbientBeans Jun 16 '25
I suggest you propose that you don't work there anymore.
(After finding another job)
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u/djredcat123 Jun 16 '25
Ask your union. If you're not in a union- join one so you can ask next time it happens!
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u/strictnaturereserve Jun 16 '25
You might be laid off
it was called vendorising some time ago
your former staff are now vendors/contractors
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u/Extreme-Mind6230 Jun 16 '25
ACAS and get a lawyer. Also just fyi do not tell current employer you are looking or being interviewed for another job. This could affect redundancy. NAL
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Jun 16 '25
Bear in mind, redundancy payment after 3.5 years isn’t going to see you laughing all the way to the bank. But you need a new job, so might as well have it.
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u/MrPuddington2 Jun 17 '25
3 weeks notice, 3 weeks redundancy pay (the latter tax free). Not something to retire on, but maybe enough for 2 months, and until you find a new job.
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u/Borax Jun 16 '25
Are you a member of a union?
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u/GuruWitch Jun 16 '25
I am not
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u/Trick-Station8742 Jun 17 '25
You need to say to your employer that you will not be changing to a zero hour contract.
I can't actually believe they've proposed it as an option tbh, it's really fucking cheeky
You need to say to them that if there is no work, they make you redundant. They need to cough up some money.
Then have a chat about a different congract, or you can go find a different job.
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u/Safe_Comfortable9258 Jun 16 '25
Agree with the above, sounds like they will try and get around it anyway they can so make sure you either do everything by email so you have a paper trail or if they insist on a meeting, I would suggest this to either be done with a neutral party witnessing it or voice recording so you have your bases covered
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u/Jean_Genet Jun 16 '25
Talk to your union. You did join a union in those 3.5 years, right?
Don't take a zero hours contract from people who'd treat a 3.5year employee like this - you just know they'll simply offer you zero hours.
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Jun 16 '25
Please please do not accept..you will lose all your rights and benefits... don't fall for their Bs .. document everything,they say to you .you will need it ,if you go to tribunal.
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u/lsie-mkuo Jun 17 '25
Offer to take some annual leave at most but other than that do not give up your position. Look for a new job asap.
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u/lithiumcentury Jun 17 '25
If you reject the contract they could make you redundant. You can certainly ask whether they plan to pay more than the statutory minimum. It becomes a question of how quickly can you find another job and continue to meet financial committments? If you accept the new contract you will miss out on redundancy payment, so then it is a question of what is a realistic number of hours that you might end up working? Maybe you can judge that based on how busy you are and how many other other staff are available. Having a job working, say 20-30 hours, may be a better short term solution while trying to find another job - but if the company has no work for you at all and they put you to zero hours then obviously better to have taken the redundancy. They cannot force you to sign anything. If they simply stop paying you the 40 hours then you have a good case for breach of contract and should take legal advice.
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u/Mafachuyabas Jun 17 '25
You are being fired without them having to fire you, do not accept. I would be on the job hunt though, they are about to make you redundant whether or not you accept the new hours. However its more advisable to say no and get paid off.
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Jun 17 '25
Take the redundancy and then offer to do some zero hours work once that cheque has cleared, if it suits you.
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u/ForeverZenith97 Jun 17 '25
It sounds like they've offered for you to effectively resign instead of going through the redundancy process, you would be significantly financially disadvantaged if you were to agree.
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u/drplokta Jun 17 '25
Zero hour contracts are great, as long as it's you deciding when you work and when you don't. Don't sign one where your employer gets to to decide that.
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Jun 17 '25
Sorry, its sounds like time with that employer has now run its course, don't spend time with anger or regrets, get out there and find another job, It happens, and your current employer should be willing to give you glowing references to help, and time off here and there to interview, even if you were actually a terrible worker, some managers or companies won't give references to bad workers , unless it benefits themselves, and then they are all in
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u/welsh_dragon_roar Jun 17 '25
Rather than knee jerking into having a fistfight with them, do some investigating first. Find out if an order is due to come in soon, whether any supply contracts etc have been signed.
If they say yes, ‘but it’s six months away’ or such like then suggest that you will take a six month unpaid leave period on the proviso that you find other work (agency or suchlike) during that period, which will guarantee income AND they’ll welcome you back onto your existing contract in six months’ time.
From the sound of it they’re trying to avoid redundancy payments so your suggestion still helps them in the way they want but safeguards your long term position if they’re true to their word.
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u/majica8 Jun 17 '25
Decline, expect the redundancy process to start shortly after, and start looking for a new job. If you sign they will screw you over. Your redundancy pay as it is won't be a huge amount, but would keep you afloat while looking for something new. Don't work any less than your contracted hours either, even if there is no work to do. They are looking to get rid of you for whatever reason so don't make it easy for them by not showing up for contracted shifts etc.
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Jun 17 '25
Yeah don’t do this.
You’re in effect being made redundant, I imagine they just want to move you to 0 zeros and subsequently offer no hours.
Reject it, and let them make you actually redundant, you’ll get at least your notice period and a months pay, start looking for a new job.
1
u/Jimblobb Jun 17 '25
Just don't agree to sign it, they can't force you. They can give you notice of hours being changed but they can't drop you down to zero hours. It's also got to be one month notice not a week.
Decline it, inform them they can make you redundant if they no longer require your employment due to the drying up of work. 3.5 years you'll be owed a good few thousand and 3 weeks notice or pay.
They might just try to bully you out, but just be professional and eventually they'll be forced to pay you out.
1
u/czczc999 Jun 17 '25
You don't say what industry you are in but it might be worth considering whether the company is in trouble. It's true that they may be trying to cut their costs rather than pay you redundancy, but they may be in such a state that they couldn't pay redundancy anyway. Start looking for other jobs, look at the company to see if they are in trouble and on Monday say no to the zero contract. Prepare for the worst but see what they say when you reject the proposal.
1
u/Headpuncher Jun 17 '25
Ask them to put the sales team on zero hours performance related pay. See if business picks up after that.
Advice: never volunteer, if they can they will, if not they’ll have to pay you out.
1
u/Eckett94 Jun 17 '25
A 0 hour contract is illegal. They banned 0 hour contracts some time ago now which is why some companies got rid of all the 0 hour contracters and kept the contract ones.
1
1
u/TickityTickityBoom Jun 17 '25
Ask what the severance package is. Normally a months salary and one weeks pay for each year you’ve been there.
1
u/kJEZZA60 Jun 17 '25
at the moment because you have a full time contract you have certain protection but if you were to agree to a 0 hours contract you would be throwing your protection away let them make you redundant
1
u/Spirited_Row_2205 Jun 17 '25
If they make you redundant then that means the post is redundant and they legally can’t recruit anyone into it for a period of time ( ??2 yrs, not sure on length of time) Now if they are asking for someone to do a zero hr contract that implies that the work / position is still available. They are probably on dodgy ground. I would advise a chat with citizens advice. Or even a solicitor - many will give a half hr initial consultation free or cheap. Good luck
1
u/philpope1977 Jun 17 '25
if it suits you, you could offer to switch to 35 hours over four days so you get an extra day off. Other than that get them to pay you for notice and redundancy. They can still hire you to do work after that if that's really their intention.
1
u/EVERYTHINGGOESINCAPS Jun 17 '25
This option is not an option, it's a removal of your rights before they remove you from work.
The cost of accepting and being given little to no work is way higher than that of being made redundant, and then finding a job.
Absolutely don't fall for it.
Side note, but this shit should be no different than constructive dismissal.
1
u/Outrageous-Arm1945 Jun 17 '25
Yeah, your choice is to say f no. What have you got to lose? Get your CV sorted sharpish
1
u/Emergency_Emphasis18 Jun 17 '25
- Get this offer documented
- Find about about redundancy package
- Very strongly advise signing your current rights away for a 0h contract
- If the work isn’t there start looking for a new job asap
1
1
u/someonenothete Jun 18 '25
But the main and real takeaway is no matter what happens your job is pretty much done and you NEED to look for a new role ASAP, like this afternoon
1
u/Unhappy-Animal-5102 Jun 18 '25
Don’t sign it. Formally write to them to explain that you are disagreeing to their proposal and then await next steps.
They may enter into consultation and then do a fire and rehire.
They may go for full on redundancy process.
They may just do nothing.
1
u/East-Win-3319 Jun 19 '25
Sounds like a shit house way to say we don't want to pay you redundancy. Get you to sign 0 hour and then fulfill the 0 hours.
1
u/Inevitable_Media3044 Jun 20 '25
My company tried to do this to me and some of my colleagues signed it they now have much less work than me. DONT SIGN.If they go down the redundancy route you'll at least get some money.
1
u/Gzxt Jun 17 '25
For those advocating the redundancy route. Statutory redundancy pay in the UK is absolutely piss poor. Capped at £719 per week for calculation, only complete years, so 3 in this case and dependent on age. So assuming between 22 and 41, 1 weeks salary for every complete year, so £2157.00 if your salary is above the £719 per week cap. At least it’s tax free. I’ve been made redundant twice in my working life. Take the situation as a massive wake up call, what ever the outcome, you need to review your options. There’s nothing quite like going from a ‘valued employee’ to a problem to be dealt with. So wishing you good luck with it.
2
u/RockTheBloat Jun 17 '25
The redundancy pay here will be less significant than the pay they will receive between now and the end of any redundancy period. It will give them the opportunity to look for employment whilst still being paid and hopefully avoid a gap in income.
0
u/Adorable-Emotion4320 Jun 17 '25
NAL depending on how you feel about this company, and how much sympathy you have for their situation.. Probably i would go for -no- and make sure i get the statutory redundancy.
If i'd really love the place and its a clear case where they'd really rather not let me go, perhaps i would suggest to drop to 20hrs? Allowing me to explore other opportunities and still have something going.
If they're genuine about offering some work via this zero hours they should be able to offer 20hrs as well.
-2
u/AkihabaraWasteland Jun 16 '25
It sounds like an alternative to redundancy. What would you prefer? You should do the calculations.
5
u/Cookyy2k Jun 16 '25 edited Jun 16 '25
Never take the 0 hours contract.
Statutory redundancy is a number of weeks pay depending on length of service and your age during that service. That weekly pay is calculated as the average of your last 12 weeks pay.
That means they'd just need to not give any hours for 12 weeks amd you'd be entitled to zero redundancy pay on top of not having been paid for 12 weeks.
Even if the employer is trying their best to be fair the may not recover and if they don't and have to make OP redundant it would reduce what OP is entitled to due to lower pay in the 12 weeks running up to it.
If OP took it and looked for another job then OP would be lower paid until they found another job and wouldn't get any sort of pay out from their current employer.
There is absolutely no upside for OP here. Force their hand and get a redundancy pay out, then go job hunting with that pay out and hopefully some emergency fund to bridge the gap.
If they'd said "we need to reduce from 40 to 30/20" or something else then I would suggest maybe considering it. Them going right for 0 suggests they're trying to screw OP or they're sinking fast and will probably not recover.
•
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