Zero hours contracts — flexible or unfair?

As with all political campaigns, there are a lot of emotive generalities being used by all parties. I’m on a zero hours contract, and wouldn’t have it any other way. I invigilate local school and college examinations which involves being asked to work for specific intervals on specific days. I can accept or decline as I wish. I get paid a modest hourly rate, above the living wage but not over-generous. This suits me very well because I’m retired and don’t want to commit to regular hours as I value my freedom. This needs to be borne in mind when total numbers are being used in an attempt to paint a picture of exploited and helpless employees.

MERVYN CLARK, Crewkerne, Somerset. I CAN see that zero hours contracts can work for some people, those who haven’t got small children or whose partners or families work the same hours all the time. But for people like me it’s hell, with no one governing the way your employers treat you. I’m in my 30s and my husband is an engineer on a rotating shift pattern. We have four children, two of whom have additional needs, and little family support, so our home life is stressful. For almost two years I’ve been working in care as a support worker on a zero hours contract. No matter how good you are at the job or how well you get on with the clients, there’s no continuity. I asked for a minimum of two 12-hour shifts a week, but I often get only one. More shifts go to workers who can always work the same hours. I have another job with the local council, also zero hours, but I still can’t get enough hours. So I applied for the third job in September. They all says it’s my fault; I’m being awkward about when I can work. On zero hours, if you don’t work, you don’t get paid — but the bills still come in. I feel like a failure, that I’m worthless and everything is hopeless.

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