Paper Team

The UK Government plans to restrict zero-hours contracts by guaranteeing minimum weekly hours and requiring compensation for shifts cancelled, shortened or moved at short notice. Zoë Grünewald argues that the contracts transfer business risk to workers and enable employer exploitation. Peter Cardwell defends them as practical arrangements that help small businesses manage fluctuating demand and allow employees to fit work around childcare or study. Emily Watkins argues that flexibility can benefit workers, particularly students, freelancers and parents, but says safeguards are needed to address the underlying imbalance of power without eliminating useful flexibility.