U.K zero hours work contracts 2% BS, employment agencys, self employment, agency workers rights.

Hi all. I feel very ranty hence the forum.

The Conservative government has been saying in press releases that only around 2% of workers are on zero hours contracts. And that some like the freedom of not knowing were there next paycheck is coming from. Which I'm sure some like working this way. I don't.

BBC What are zero hour contracts

So I'm semi skilled worker but have to work via an employment agency to find work. I drive trucks for a living in the U.K. The week before last I worked for 8 hours @ £12 per hour around $17.80. The next week 4x 12 hour shifts. This week 13 hours yesterday. No work today and no work tomorrow.

A few years ago an act called Agency Workers rights was implemented.

Text4. Your rights as a temporary agency worker As a temporary agency worker you’re entitled to: paid holiday (bank holidays may be included in your holiday entitlement - check with your agency) rest breaks and limits on working time no unlawful deductions from wages the National Minimum Wage freedom from discrimination under equality legislation protection under health and safety laws details of job vacancies with your hirer the same access to shared facilities and services at work as other comparable employees Shared facilities and services might include: access to a canteen or food and drinks machines a workplace crèche or mother and baby room car parking or transport services (eg local pick up service, inter-site transport) a staff common room a prayer room Your hirer can only refuse you access to facilities if they can ‘objectively justify’ denying you access. Cost alone is unlikely to be a sufficient reason.

www.gov.uk...

Agencys made workers like myself go self employed to avoid the legislation. Or no work. Self employment went up. Great for the economy?
No. Now I'm self employed I pay no National Insurance contribution, no income tax, no corporation tax and am able to claim VAT back.
This I am told "is how it is" for small businesses.

If you walk down your local town/city center you will see lots of employment angecys. Pertemps, The Best Connection, Interaction to name but a few. Along with the national and local independent employment agencys my guess is 25% of the population are on zero hour contracts.

As self employed/agency worker I can't get a mortgage, car finance. I can't plan a holiday because I dont know my hours from one wek to the next. If I moan about unsafe working practices, lights out on trucks which is a £50 fine per light, 9am start times one day and 15.00 starts the next "no work for you for the next few days seems the norm"

Anyway what a load crap work is, if I can get it..........

I drove for one of those agencies you mention, and the only jobs I was offered were those that could not be completed within daily driving hours!
I soon realized that hauliage firms were using agency drivers for such jobs so that their own drivers didn't have to break the law.
When I complained to the agency I didn't get anymore offers!

a reply to: VoidHawk

Yes VoidHawk this seems the norm. What the office staff don't realise is the the EU Working Time Directive makes planing a shift to take a driver over his hours is an offence with fines and operators licence removal. But we're just drivers who know nothing. lol

originally posted by: marc72
a reply to: VoidHawk

Yes VoidHawk this seems the norm. What the office staff don't realise is the the EU Working Time Directive makes planing a shift to take a driver over his hours is an offence with fines and operators licence removal. But we're just drivers who know nothing. lol

You'd be surprised (or maybe not?) just how corrupt those who inspect the operators are! I went to them one day with photographs of a warped break disc and a driving seat that fell out of the cab behind me as I got out! I went to them because the company I worked for refused to repair the lorry.
The next day I saw the same V man helping himself to goods from our warehouse, and I was told by the manager I'd never work again once they got rid of me.
They should have been dragged over the coals for what they were making me do, but instead the inspectorate guy got free access to the warehouse!

a reply to: VoidHawk

Funny you should say that but I've been thinking about going to the dark side and working for the DVSA. Pay is poor about £25k.

I had this before Xmas



I was told it was the 3rd time it had happened in the last few weeks. The same company gave me the keys to a 18tonne truck and said " The seat belts not working. That'll be ok. It's been defected. Most drivers don't use them anyway."

I lasted two weeks.

a reply to: VoidHawk

I was told by the manager I'd never work again once they got rid of me.

It does sound like a blessing in disguise. In the short term it maybe a hassle as you look for work, in the long term you are much better off away from a poor and unsafe work environment. All industries seam to have their diversity of operations from good to bad. Getting pushed away from the bad ones because to smart enough to ask questions is a good thing.

I'm not in your country or your career. However out of h.s. I used to temp as a receptionist ... and the best way to stay busy was to be registered with multiple agencies. They didn't like that though. But, it paid the bills. I even had two agencies offer me the exact same job for different wages.

Idk if that helps, i hope it does.

originally posted by: kwakakev
a reply to: VoidHawk

It does sound like a blessing in disguise.

Unfortunately your getting work from the same employer the agency. Your labelled as a difficult employee which means no more work.

originally posted by: Iamthatbish
I'm not in your country or your career. However out of h.s. I used to temp as a receptionist ... and the best way to stay busy was to be registered with multiple agencies. They didn't like that though. But, it paid the bills. I even had two agencies offer me the exact same job for different wages.

Idk if that helps, i hope it does.

Registering with multiple agencies seems to work well between May and Christmas. Driving seems to be seasonal. When people are spending money stuff gets delivered.

a reply to: marc72
Also you could take office jobs, I got paid $12 an hour we won't say how many years ago to stuff envelopes. And not only was the conference room like a party, temps from other agencies had the best ideas.

a reply to: marc72

Exactly true, note how the reporters chiming the Tory's reduction in unemployment never mention most of these people are not guaranteed work, if they get it have few hours and are on minimum wage, agency's are being used to force people to become so called self employed yet they are earning nothing or next to while as well as this slave society the Tory's are claiming is wonderful they are planning to remove the last vestiges or as much of them as possible if they manage to rig this election in there favour.

Even though I want to vote Labour they are still and despite Ed Milliband being a more social minded leader than since before Blair, they are not for the poor or the true low earner's so how can the really be for the working class, the working class need established and upheld minimum rights and job security, they need Zero hours slave labour contracts scrapped and they need the CBI to stop ruling the country and let the democratic process of the electorate speak for itself.

You know the only democratic political movement's left are the Green Party (Who I intend to vote for as they can then force Labour into a coalition with a little luck that will be more socialist than Labour now is) and the TUC, note how the CBI sponsored press tear's at the TUC and the unions at any chance while no one in the press ever criticises the corrupt and unelected CBI.

From a Christian point of view not to go too far off topic when Cameron get before the pearly gates if they ever do and are asked by Christ "When did you give me to drink when I was thirsty", "When did you give me food when I was hungry", "When did you shelter me when I was homeless", "When did you give me your spare coat when I had non".

What will be his answer and therefore who do the Tory's serve?.

a reply to: marc72

Ii worked for the same company year in year out for 8 on and off years . I practically ran the bloomin place , supervisor,fork truck driver,operator,stores,security etc etc etc etc what did I get for all the hard work and dedication ? , take an extra week off for your holiday as work is running out . more like they wanted overtime for the full timers . so I told them to shove it and remove me from the books , I refuse to return to agency work.

No matter who says I have too. I now look after my kids and we are no worse off as my wife works. Stuff them
Look up apprentice jobs on the gov.UK website . apprentice cleaner !! £80 a week 40 hours .... Do the math that's slave labour. This whole planets gonna implode soon and I can't fall any lower I'll just laugh my ass of at all the dipsticks flying past from there pedestal...

a reply to: marc72

My mate was on one. I thought it was good because it allowed him to pick and choose from an abundance of hours...

Until he was forced to work in -2 degrees C cold with no warm rest area or warm clothes provided. He complained and went to local advisory service. Normally the employer would be forced to buy the clothes and provide a warm rest area but as he was a zero hours contract employee he had ZERO rights! Obviously I have changed my mind on such contracts.

a reply to: Iamthatbish

Yes I would consider other work but office work is no for me as I have slight Dyslexia. Also a 60 day gap in driving raises questions.

a reply to: LABTECH767

Yes LABTECH76 the unemployment figures are heavily massaged. Every time a jobseaker on welfare is sanctioned for not applying for enough jobs. That's one less number.

As far as voting this election The Greens seem less self serving. I am a Socialist btw.

a reply to: periloustimes

Apprentice cleaner? Give me a break. Three years training to push a broom probably.

a reply to: and14263

I'm twenty years of working in warehouse, and on the road I've never been supplied any PPE. Work boots, Hi Viz, gloves ect all ways brought by myself. Cold room gear must cost a packet?

a reply to: marc72

Yeah probably costs a bit to you and me but if you run a business in a cold room you get discounts for buying regularly and you budget it into the spending forecast.

Or you don't!

Sometimes it's better to buy your own kit anyway - I'm sitting at a PC now with safety boots on because I have to go in the workshop every hour or so - They're cheap Arco ones provided for me... and my feet are killing. Those in the know are walking around in Cats and Timberlands due to comfort!

So just got a text massage from the agency asking what my availability for the next seven days is.

Looks like I've got to make myself available for the Easter weekend, at standard weekend pay. I may have work I may not. But I wont be able to make plans the visit family or kick back due to the possibility of work. THIS SUCKS

a reply to: and14263

I have the same brand arco boots. My friend who's a full time forklift driver gets two pairs a year. I give him £10 for a pair. I find insoles make a world of difference. I think boots are a bit like tyres. If your doing lots of miles buy Pirelli, if your not buy Chinese death rubber.