Are you a mother or student who needs jobs only during certain seasons? If so, zero hour contract jobs are suitable for your conditions. The profession type is rising nowadays because some firms are looking for temporary workers for Christmas or one-time events for all business lines. Examples of this are seasonal bazaars or flea markets.
This model meets the expectations of some workers who hope to work under short-term commitments. This article will dig deeper into this work type. Make sure you finish reading as this can be an insight for your future career option at times when you still have to study or take care of the family.
What are zero hour contract jobs?
Zero hour contract jobs mean employers have no obligations to set minimum working hours. In the scheme, employees have the right to reject and accept work offers from their employers. The contract design makes the type also known as “on-call” or “piece call” work. Employers will not provide the details of the role because of the clear job descriptions advertised.
In the past, on-call work was strongly tied to interpreting. Interpreters usually have no long-term contact with specific working hours. They come when needed, especially during international conferences. Nowadays, more and more jobs fall under the zero hour contract jobs. Find out why the employment type is popular and the pros and cons behind it.
The pros and cons of zero hour contract jobs
Zero hour contract jobs have both bad and good sides. All of the sides deal with money, working time, and job prospects. For employers or managers, the term money especially refers to salary expenses. For the workers, this means the money they receive once the job is over.
The working hours and the job prospects offer a few points to consider when deciding to try this job model. No work scheme is 100 per cent perfect, but knowing the full information will lead you to make well-informed decisions. Read the details below before jumping into this employment model:
Pros for employers
There are at least three advantages behind the zero hour contract jobs type. For employers, the scheme allows them to hire employees when needed only. They won’t have to provide specific training because they usually employ professionals who are already skilled in their respective fields. When they come to work, they already know what they will perform.
Second, employers can cut budgets for salary payments. They only pay for the working hours the workers actually perform. They won’t always pay the monthly salary for the employees. Once the work is completed, the workers receive the wages. Hence, the scheme allows employers to lower operating costs and add revenue and profit.
Zero hour contract jobs are recommended for new business owners. As they don’t know yet about customer demands, the employment model enables them to adjust their expenditures. They can scale up the business and change the job type into full-time contracts when they can project consumer demand and income.
Pros for workers
For the workers, the zero hour contract jobs enable them for a flexible working system. They can earn money without having to neglect their primary jobs or activities. Freelancers can reap the most benefit from this. They are allowed to work several jobs at once; thus, they can make more money.
Mothers and students can make use of the job scheme to enable them to nurture their families and study well at the universities. The second benefit is that this opens for work-life balance. Workers can adjust their working hours to fit their lifestyle and allow them to enjoy more spare time as they need to.
Cons for employers
Zero hour contract jobs have negative consequences for employers. They can’t maintain top-quality work results all the time. The contracts don’t stipulate exact working hours for the workers for the jobs. In addition, the managers have to create solutions if the workers don’t wish to accept the jobs they offer.
If they can’t solve the first problem, get prepared for the other consequences. Customers will not be satisfied with the job results. With this, the employees may have low motivation to complete their duties well. This will disrupt the production. And in the end, the revenue and the profit will go down.
Cons for workers
The employees find the contract jobs a bit confusing in terms of the working hours themselves. As the employers can’t provide the work all the time, you may find yourself without work for quite a bit of time. Your life planning will be impacted, and some may find it difficult to attain a work-life balance.
Probably the biggest downside of zero hour contract jobs relates to steady income. With inconsistent working hours, it’s quite challenging to earn a stable salary, say, per month. The employees can’t project their costs and plan their retirement later. Perhaps they need to seek more jobs to make ends meet.
Examples of zero hour contract jobs
Usually, hospitality and retail industries apply for zero hour contract jobs. Companies in these sectors will require a large number of staff during peak seasons, such as wedding ceremonies at the start of the year. Another example is during New Year’s Eve celebrations when tourists flock to hotels and tourist destinations across the world.
As a result, seasonal workers are common during such times. They can work extra hours during the holidays but then will reduce the number of working hours after the season ends. Below are the details of what kind of jobs are usually in high demand for the two sectors and others:
1. Housekeeping staff
When the holiday season arrives, hotels hire more housekeeping staff under zero hour contract jobs. Their work includes making beds, wasting the trash, changing towels, and mapping floors. Sometimes, the hotel managements assign existing housekeeping staff to work overtime in exchange for an extra paycheck as the season ends.
2. Bar and restaurant worker
As hotels receive more guests, bars and restaurants open for longer hours, and they have to hire more workers to provide excellent service to the visitors. Their jobs require serving the meals and drinks, cleaning the tables, and welcoming the guests. Moreover, they have to handle the payment and other services as needed.
3. Cashier
Stores typically open for longer hours, for example, during Christmas, New Year’s Eve, and Black Friday. Under the zero hour contract jobs, cashiers will handle payments longer than usual. They must check all products bought by the customers, package them all and ensure the customers get good service before leaving the stores.
4. Customer service representatives
More buyers may also mean more complaints. During the high season, retailers may hire more customer service representatives to handle the customers’ complaints. They also have to answer other inquiries, like explaining products via email or phone calls. In short, their jobs are part of after-sales services that guarantee their customer satisfaction.
5. Delivery drivers
Holiday seasons are also busy times for delivery drivers. Restaurants usually call more drivers to pick up and bring food and drink as ordered by customers. During New Year’s Eve, for example, people will usually eat until late at night. In the zero hour contract jobs scheme, restaurants or bars may ask drivers to give the services until midnight or even until morning.
Discover more about zero hour contract jobs now
At the College of Contract Management, you will study more deeply about what obligations every manager must fulfil before create zero hour contract jobs. You can consult with their experts on labour and management about the issue. In addition, you can ask for advice on what kind of jobs you can open for the public while meeting your budget.
If you are a worker, the courses are helpful to equip you with knowledge so that you can earn the rights well. Moreover, their courses will guide you on how you can make the most of the scheme while you can still finish your studies and enjoy a work-life balance.
