How can you live on a zero hour contact?

Genuine question, how can you get a mortgage? Lenders are so cautious these days, how can you offer enough financial security to secure a mortgage?

How can you even rent? You need to provide evidence that you will earn enough income, how can you provide that evidence?

This is a genuine question. To me zero hour contacts are great for students, or young people who live at home, or have parents that can provide enough financial support, but for everyone who wants to make their own way in life, it seems impossible.

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Reply 1

silverbolt

you cant. Its the simple answer. You can go from having 50 hours one week to 0 for the next six weeks and because you signed the employment agreement theres nothing you can do about it

Hence why a lot of people want them banned.

Reply 2

Aj12

You're not really supposed to. Zero hour contacts are brilliant for quite a few employees and really offer the flexibility a lot of people need. Still they can't give you the foundation you need to build a life.

You can't.

You can't. Zero hour contracts aren't there for the benefit of employees, they are for employers who want cheap, disposable labour.

My housemate is on one. She took it as it's an area of high unemployment and she was desperate for money. It doesn't just leave her with highly variable income, but, because they can and often do call her in at short notice, she can't sign up for an educational course or do voluntary work to improve her CV. It also interrupts her attempts to have a social life. When it gets quiet she will often be sent home for a couple of hours.

Basically, they own her, but they aren't willing to pay her properly.

Reply 5

username1862217

When I first heard about them they sounded meh and not particularly good or bad. But after meeting and speaking with some people who are on these contracts, I can see that they are complete bullcrap and need to be gone.

Reply 6

squeakysquirrel

Original post by Twinpeaks

And this folks is why you should work hard at school, get a decent (science) degree and then get a proper job with prospects.

There are thousands of graduates out there on zero hours contracts who will never earn enough to get on the housing ladder. There are thousands of school leavers who mucked about at school and have come out with a couple of mediocre GCSEs who will always be on benefits. And yes it is all for the benefit of employers who need to cut costs and corners at the expense of the workers - and because we have a huge migrant population ( legally here) there is never any shortage of people willing to do the job

Reply 7

Twinpeaks

Original post by squeakysquirrel

I'm sorry but whilst I see your point, what on earth would happen if every student got a decent science degree? There's that much demand out there for science grads is there?

Also, that's unrealistic. Not everyone has the academic ability, or the desire to do a decent science degree.

Also, we need lower wage workers in order to function as a society. We need them just as much as the high income workforce, they are just as vital. So why punish them with zero hour contracts?

Reply 8

Twinpeaks

So, as predicted, they can't. It is sickening that the government is allowing businesses to enforce them to such an extent. What good is it going to do to our housing market, it's only now perking up ffs.

Reply 9

kendellex

I had a zero hour contract but my hours were extremely steady the whole time I worked there. Maybe one or two days off last minute but I usually got 35 hours a week from it.
I wouldn't like to rely on it if I lived on my own though.

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Reply 10

The Donut Maker

Original post by silverbolt

I love zero hour contracts , why get them banned? I know many more who prefer them due to the flexibility, don't a large proportion of society not matter? If these other people do not want a zero hour contract then they should not of bloody signed up to one.

Reply 11

Rakas21

You can rent through the likes of spare room if you generally get enough hours.

Reply 12

thecatwithnohat

I love the zero hour contracts

But then again I'm a full-time student and the money I get I'm saving for university next year. A blessing to many, but certainly not something you can live off, especially with the last minute cancellations and travelling a long distance to only be sent home 4 hours later!

I think they'd be great if each shift had a minimum of 9 hours or so, to make your journey and time spent worthwhile.

Reply 13

Twinpeaks

Original post by The Donut Maker

How can these people live though? You can't rent because you can't prove you'll earn enough income, you can't get a mortgage...

Those people you mentioned aren't fully independent I bet.

Reply 14

Twinpeaks

Original post by Rakas21

You can rent through the likes of spare room if you generally get enough hours.

What a decent quality of life..
That is only a temporary solution, you can't permanently live like that.

Reply 15

Rakas21

Original post by Twinpeaks

What a decent quality of life..
That is only a temporary solution, you can't permanently live like that.

Of course but if your wanting a career you'd move to a company offering fixed hours anyway.

Can't say quality of life is always an issue on them. Zero hours don't always mean being called in the morning to work a shift a week.

Reply 16

Emma:-)

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Original post by silverbolt

I agree.
While, they are good for a few, such as students etc, for a lot of people, they arent that good, especially if you want the security or want to rent/get a mortgage or whatever.
And quite a few people dont have a choice either as a jobs a job at the end of the day and you take it until you find something better.

Reply 17

Twinpeaks

Original post by Rakas21

That's not what I meant. I mean not being able to rent your own flat.

Reply 18

Rakas21

Original post by Twinpeaks

That's not what I meant. I mean not being able to rent your own flat.

Personally i don't really fancy living alone so in the event i was on zero hours it wouldn't be a concern until i wanted to live with the future wife. Others no doubt do want their own place though.

Reply 19

Inazuma

Not sure why people are being silly and saying 'you can't' - clearly never experienced one and just read articles about how evil they are.
Have a friend who works them, does bins, and lives in London and manages fine by himself. And he has time to go out and socialise etc.
While it's not ideal by any means - better for situations like students etc., it is doable.