The Covid-19 pandemic must ensure the end of zero-hour contracts and their lack of employment security

Dr Jo McBride, Durham University

Whilst the Covid-19 crisis is a worrying and uncertain time for all of us, it has brought into sharp focus important contemporary employment issues in the UK. In particular those workers on zero hours contracts (ZHCs) and highly variable short-hours contracts whose employment is uncertain and precarious on a daily and weekly basis.

It is estimated that approximately 974 000 workers (including at least 30,000 NHS workers) in the UK are currently employed on zero hours contracts in their main job.
Jo and her colleagues carried out the first ever UK study to focus on such employees, who they term ‘The Forgotten Workers’. Many are employed on ZHCs or highly variable short-hours contracts in the care sector, retail and cleaning – employees in sectors who are now deemed to be ‘key workers’.

Jo will share the findings of her research with us as well as further plans for the post-Covid climate to ensure that these workers are never ‘forgotten’ again.