Employment Rights Act 2025

Part 1 — Employment rights

Zero hours workers, etc

Right to guaranteed hours

1

• (1) Part 2A of the Employment Rights Act 1996 (zero hours workers) is amended as follows.

• (2) In the Part heading, at the end insert “and similar”.

• (3) Before section 27A insert—

.

• (4) After section 27B insert—

(27BA) (1) An employer must make a guaranteed hours offer to a worker in accordance with section 27BB after the end of every period— (a) that is a reference period in relation to that worker and that employer, and (b) in relation to which the worker is a qualifying worker of the employer. (2) Section 27BD makes provision for exceptions to this duty, including in certain cases where the worker ceases to be employed by the employer. (3) A worker is a qualifying worker of an employer in relation to a reference period if— (a) during the reference period the worker was employed by the employer under one or more worker’s contracts (whether or not continuously) and either— (i) the worker’s contract was, or the worker’s contracts were, a zero hours contract or entered into in accordance with a zero hours arrangement, or (ii) the worker’s contract, or the worker’s contracts (taken together), required the employer, or were entered into in accordance with an arrangement that required the employer, to make work available to the worker during the reference period for a number of hours (“the minimum number of hours”) not exceeding a specified number of hours, (b) during the reference period the worker worked under the worker’s contract or the worker’s contracts (taken together) for a number of hours (the “reference period hours”), (c) where paragraph (a)(ii) applies, the reference period hours exceeded the minimum number of hours, (d) the reference period hours satisfy such conditions (or, where paragraph (a)(ii) applies, such further conditions) as to number, regularity or otherwise as are specified, and (e) when the worker worked the reference period hours, it was not as an excluded worker or an agency worker (but see Part 1 of Schedule A1 for provision about guaranteed hours and agency workers). (4) In relation to a worker and the worker’s employer, each of the following is a “reference period”— (a) the initial reference period, and (b) each subsequent reference period. (5) “The initial reference period”, in relation to a worker and the worker’s employer, means the period— (a) beginning with— (i) where the worker is employed by the employer on the day on which subsection (1) comes into force (“the commencement day”), the commencement day, or (ii) where the worker is not so employed, the first day after the commencement day on which the worker is employed by the employer, and (b) ending with the specified day. (6) A “subsequent reference period”, in relation to a worker and the worker’s employer, means a period beginning and ending with the specified days. (7) See paragraph 6(4) of Schedule A1 for provision about when the initial reference period is not a reference period in relation to a worker who is a former agency worker and that worker’s employer. (8) For the purposes of this Chapter— (a) references to a “qualifying worker” are to a worker who is a qualifying worker of an employer in relation to a reference period by virtue of subsection (3), and (b) the reference period in relation to which the worker is a qualifying worker of the employer is referred to as “the relevant reference period”. (9) If, during a reference period— (a) a worker was employed by an employer under one or more worker’s contracts of the type described in subsection (3)(a)(i) and one or more worker’s contracts of the type described in subsection (3)(a)(ii), and (b) the hours that the worker worked under the worker’s contract, or the worker’s contracts, that are of the type described in subsection (3)(a)(ii) did not exceed the minimum number of hours, the worker’s contract, or the worker’s contracts, that are of the type described in subsection (3)(a)(ii) are to be disregarded in the application of this Chapter (other than this subsection) in relation to the worker and the reference period (and accordingly that worker’s contract, or those worker’s contracts, are to be treated as not existing). (10) Subsection (11) applies where— (a) a worker’s contract or arrangement requires an employer to make work available to a worker for a number of hours, and (b) some or all of those hours may be made available either on days falling within a reference period or on days falling within another period (all of the days on which the hours may be so made available together forming the “longer period”). In subsection (11), “the unassigned hours” are the hours that may be made available at any time during the longer period as described in paragraph (b). (11) Where this subsection applies— (a) subsection (3)(a)(ii) is to apply as if the contract or arrangement required the employer to make work available to the worker during the reference period for the apportioned number of the unassigned hours (in addition to any other hours that the employer is required to make available to the worker during the reference period); (b) “the apportioned number” of the unassigned hours is— $$H × D 1 D 2$ where— H is the number of the unassigned hours, D1 is the number of days in the reference period that fall within the longer period, and D2 is the number of days in the longer period.$ (12) Where there is more than one longer period in relation to the same reference period, subsection (11) is to be applied separately in relation to each longer period. (13) Nothing in this Chapter prevents an employer from making one or more other offers to a qualifying worker, to vary the worker’s terms and conditions of employment or enter into a new worker’s contract, at the same time as making a guaranteed hours offer. (14) Regulations made under subsection (3)(d), (5) or (6) may, in particular, include provision to take account of time when a worker does not work for a specified reason. (15) Before making— (a) the first regulations to be made under subsection (5), the Secretary of State must consult such persons as the Secretary of State considers appropriate about when the initial reference period is to end; (b) the first regulations to be made under subsection (6), the Secretary of State must consult such persons as the Secretary of State considers appropriate about when a subsequent reference period is to begin and end. (16) In this section, “excluded worker” means a worker who is of a specified description. (27BB) (1) An offer by an employer to a qualifying worker is a guaranteed hours offer for the purposes of this Chapter if it is an offer— (a) to vary the worker’s terms and conditions of employment (but see subsection (6)), or (b) to enter into a new worker’s contract, and the terms and conditions as varied or (as the case may be) the new worker’s contract will require the employer to provide the qualifying worker with work, and the qualifying worker to do work, for a number of hours that reflects the reference period hours in the relevant reference period. (2) The Secretary of State may by regulations provide that an offer by an employer to a qualifying worker is a guaranteed hours offer for the purposes of this Chapter only if it also satisfies the condition in subsection (3). (3) The condition referred to in subsection (2) is that— (a) the offer sets out— (i) the days of the week, and the times on those days, when the offered number of hours are to be provided and worked, or (ii) a working pattern of days, and times of day, by reference to which the offered number of hours are to be provided and worked, and (b) those days and times reflect, or that pattern reflects, when the qualifying worker worked the reference period hours in the relevant reference period. (4) Where no regulations are in force under subsection (2) that apply in relation to an offer by an employer to a qualifying worker, the offer is a guaranteed hours offer for the purposes of this Chapter only if it also proposes terms and conditions relating to when the offered number of hours are to be provided and worked (which need not be on particular days of the week, or at particular times on those days, or by reference to a particular working pattern of days or times of day). (5) The Secretary of State may by regulations make provision about how it is to be determined— (a) whether an offer reflects the number of hours worked by a qualifying worker during a reference period; (b) where regulations are in force under subsection (2) that apply in relation to an offer, whether the offer reflects when hours were worked by a qualifying worker during a reference period. (6) A guaranteed hours offer may take the form of an offer to vary a qualifying worker’s terms and conditions of employment (as opposed to an offer to enter into a new worker’s contract) only if— (a) the qualifying worker worked for the employer under a worker’s contract at the beginning of the relevant reference period, (b) the qualifying worker is still working for the employer under that worker’s contract on the day the offer is made, and (c) the qualifying worker did not work for the employer under any other worker’s contract during the period beginning with the first day of the relevant reference period and ending with the day the offer is made. (7) A guaranteed hours offer that takes the form of an offer to vary a qualifying worker’s terms and conditions of employment— (a) must propose the removal of any term that provides for the contract to terminate by virtue of a limiting event unless, if the contract were entered into on the day the offer is made, it would be reasonable for it to be entered into as a limited-term contract; (b) may not propose any other variation of the worker’s terms and conditions of employment (other than what is required by or under subsections (1) and (2) or subsections (1) and (4)). (8) A guaranteed hours offer that takes the form of an offer to enter into a new worker’s contract— (a) must not propose a new worker’s contract that is a limited-term contract unless it is reasonable for it to be entered into as such a contract, and (b) must (in addition to what is required by or under subsections (1) and (2) or subsections (1) and (4)) propose terms and conditions of employment— (i) that, taken as a whole, are no less favourable than the terms and conditions of employment relating to matters other than working hours and length of employment that the qualifying worker had when working for the employer during the relevant reference period, or (ii) where section 27BC applies, that comply with subsection (2) of that section. (9) For the purposes of this section it is reasonable for a worker’s contract of a qualifying worker to be entered into as a limited-term contract only if— (a) it is reasonable for the qualifying worker’s employer to consider that the worker is only needed to perform a specific task and the contract provides for termination when the task has been performed, (b) it is reasonable for the qualifying worker’s employer to consider that the worker is only needed until the occurrence of an event (or the failure of an event to occur) and the contract provides for termination on the occurrence of the event (or the failure of the event to occur), or (c) it is reasonable for the qualifying worker’s employer to consider that there is only a temporary need of a specified description (not falling within paragraph (a) or (b)) for the qualifying worker to do work under the contract and the contract is to expire at a time when it is reasonable for the employer to consider that the temporary need will come to an end. (10) Before making the first regulations to be made under subsection (9)(c) the Secretary of State must consult— (a) such persons representing the interests of seasonal workers as the Secretary of State considers appropriate, (b) such persons representing the interests of employers of seasonal workers as the Secretary of State considers appropriate, and (c) such other persons as the Secretary of State considers appropriate. (11) A guaranteed hours offer— (a) must be made by no later than the specified day, (b) must be made in the specified form and manner, and (c) must be accompanied by specified information relating to the offer. (12) The Secretary of State may by regulations make provision about when a guaranteed hours offer is to be treated as having been made. (13) In this section, “reference period hours”, in relation to a qualifying worker and a relevant reference period, has the same meaning as in section 27BA(3). (27BC) (1) This section applies where— (a) a guaranteed hours offer made by an employer to a qualifying worker takes the form of an offer to enter into a new worker’s contract, and (b) during the relevant reference period— (i) the qualifying worker worked for the employer under more than one worker’s contract and did not have the same terms and conditions of employment relating to matters other than working hours and length of employment under those worker’s contracts, or (ii) the qualifying worker worked for the employer under only one worker’s contract but there was a variation during the relevant reference period of the qualifying worker’s terms and conditions of employment relating to matters other than working hours and length of employment. (2) Where this section applies, the guaranteed hours offer may propose terms and conditions of employment (in addition to what is required by or under section 27BB(1) and (2) or section 27BB(1) and (4)) that, taken as a whole, are less favourable than the most favourable terms and conditions of employment relating to matters other than working hours and length of employment that the qualifying worker had when working for the employer during the relevant reference period, but only if— (a) those proposed terms and conditions, taken as a whole, are no less favourable than the least favourable terms and conditions relating to matters other than working hours and length of employment that the qualifying worker had when working for the employer during the relevant reference period, and (b) the proposal of those terms by the employer constitutes a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim. (3) If an employer relies on subsection (2) when making a guaranteed hours offer to a qualifying worker, the employer must give to the qualifying worker a notice that— (a) states that the employer has done so, and (b) explains how the proposed terms and conditions constitute a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim. (4) A notice under subsection (3) must be given by no later than the same day, and in the same form and manner, as the guaranteed hours offer (see section 27BB(11)). (27BD) (1) The duty imposed by section 27BA(1) on an employer in relation to a qualifying worker does not apply if during the relevant reference period or the offer period there is a relevant termination of— (a) the worker’s contract under which the qualifying worker has been working for the employer, or (b) the arrangement in accordance with the terms of which the qualifying worker has been working for the employer. (2) A guaranteed hours offer made by an employer to a qualifying worker is to be treated as having been withdrawn if during the response period there is a relevant termination of— (a) the worker’s contract under which the qualifying worker has been working for the employer, or (b) the arrangement in accordance with the terms of which the qualifying worker has been working for the employer. (3) Where a qualifying worker works for an employer under more than one worker’s contract, or in accordance with the terms of more than one arrangement, during— (a) the relevant reference period, (b) the offer period, or (c) the response period, the references in subsections (1) and (2) to the worker’s contract or (as the case may be) the arrangement are to the worker’s contract under which, or (as the case may be) the arrangement in accordance with the terms of which, the qualifying worker last worked for the employer before the end of the period in question. (4) There is a relevant termination of a worker’s contract entered into between a qualifying worker and an employer if— (a) the qualifying worker terminates (with or without notice) the worker’s contract otherwise than in circumstances in which the worker is entitled to terminate it without notice by reason of the employer’s conduct, (b) the employer terminates (with or without notice) the worker’s contract and— (i) the employer’s reason for doing so (or, if more than one, the employer’s principal reason for doing so) is a qualifying reason, and (ii) in the circumstances (including the size and administrative resources of the employer’s undertaking) the employer acts reasonably in treating the reason (or the principal reason) as a sufficient reason for terminating the contract, or (c) the worker’s contract terminates by virtue of a limiting event and it was reasonable for the contract to have been entered into as a limited-term contract. (5) There is a relevant termination of an arrangement entered into between a qualifying worker and an employer if— (a) the qualifying worker or the employer terminates the arrangement and the termination is equivalent to a termination falling within subsection (4)(a) or (b), or (b) the arrangement was not intended to be permanent and the termination of it is equivalent to a termination falling within subsection (4)(c). (6) The Secretary of State may by regulations make provision for the duty imposed by section 27BA(1) not to apply in relation to a reference period, or for a guaranteed hours offer that has been made to be treated as having been withdrawn, in other specified circumstances. (7) In exercising the power under subsection (6) the Secretary of State must, in particular, have regard to— (a) the benefit to workers of receiving a guaranteed hours offer under this Chapter, and (b) the desirability of preventing this Chapter from having a significant adverse effect on employers who are dealing with exceptional circumstances. (8) Where, by virtue of subsection (2), a guaranteed hours offer made by an employer to a qualifying worker is treated as having been withdrawn, the employer must, by no later than the end of the response period, give a notice to the qualifying worker stating this to be the case. (9) Where, by virtue of regulations under subsection (6)— (a) an employer who would otherwise have been subject to the duty imposed by section 27BA(1) in relation to a qualifying worker and a particular reference period is not required to make a guaranteed hours offer to the qualifying worker, or (b) a guaranteed hours offer made by an employer to a qualifying worker is treated as having been withdrawn, the employer must give a notice to the qualifying worker that states which provision of the regulations has produced the effect referred to in paragraph (a) or (b) (as the case may be). (10) A notice under subsection (9) must be given by an employer to a qualifying worker— (a) where it is required to be given by virtue of paragraph (a) of that subsection, by no later than the end of the offer period; (b) where it is required to be given by virtue of paragraph (b) of that subsection, by no later than the end of the response period. (11) The Secretary of State may by regulations make provision about— (a) the form and manner in which a notice under subsection (8) or (9) must be given; (b) when a notice under subsection (8) or (9) is to be treated as having been given. (12) For the purposes of subsection (4)(c) (and subsection (5)(b), which applies subsection (4)(c))— (a) subsection (9) of section 27BB (when it is reasonable for a worker’s contract to be entered into as a limited-term contract) applies as it applies for the purposes of that section; (b) it is to be presumed, unless the contrary is shown, that it was not reasonable for the worker’s contract to have been entered into as a limited-term contract if the work done by the qualifying worker under the worker’s contract was of the same or a similar nature as the work done under another worker’s contract under which the qualifying worker worked for the employer— (i) where the period in question is the relevant reference period, during that period; (ii) where the period in question is the offer period, during that period or the relevant reference period; (iii) where the period in question is the response period, during that period, the relevant reference period or the offer period. (13) In this section— - “the offer period”, in relation to a qualifying worker and the qualifying worker’s employer, means the period beginning with the day after the day on which the relevant reference period ends and ending with— the day on which a guaranteed hours offer is made to the qualifying worker by the employer, or if no guaranteed hours offer is made before the day specified under section 27BB(11)(a) as the last day on which the employer may make such an offer to the qualifying worker, that last day; - “qualifying reason” means— a reason of the type mentioned in section 98(1)(b), or in relation to a worker who was not an employee immediately before ceasing to be employed, a reason that would be of the type mentioned in section 98(1)(b) if references in that provision and in section 98(2) and (3) to an employee were references to a worker; - “the response period”, in relation to a guaranteed hours offer made to a qualifying worker, means the period— beginning with the day after the day on which the offer is made, and ending with the specified day. (27BE) (1) Where an employer makes a guaranteed hours offer to a qualifying worker and the offer is not treated as having been withdrawn by virtue of section 27BD(2) or regulations under section 27BD(6), the qualifying worker may, by giving notice to the employer before the end of the response period, accept or reject the offer. (2) Where the guaranteed hours offer takes the form of an offer to vary the qualifying worker’s terms and conditions of employment and the qualifying worker gives notice under subsection (1) accepting the offer, the variation (assuming the worker’s contract that was in force when the guaranteed hours offer was made is still in force) is to be treated as taking effect on the day after the day on which notice is given (but this is subject to subsection (6)). (3) If the guaranteed hours offer takes the form of an offer to vary the qualifying worker’s terms and conditions of employment but the worker’s contract that was in force when the guaranteed hours offer was made ceases to be in force during the response period— (a) the qualifying worker may (if the offer is not treated as having been withdrawn by virtue of section 27BD(2) or regulations under section 27BD(6)) still give notice under subsection (1) accepting the offer, and (b) if the qualifying worker does so— (i) the qualifying worker and the employer are to be treated as entering into a worker’s contract on the day after the day on which notice is given (but this is subject to subsection (6)), and (ii) the terms of the contract are to be treated as being the terms of the worker’s contract that was in force when the guaranteed hours offer was made as varied in accordance with the terms of the offer. (4) Where the guaranteed hours offer takes the form of an offer to enter into a new worker’s contract and the qualifying worker gives notice under subsection (1) accepting the offer— (a) the qualifying worker and the employer are to be treated as entering into a worker’s contract in the terms of the offer on the day after the day on which notice is given (but this is subject to subsection (6)), and (b) that worker’s contract is to be treated as replacing any other worker’s contract entered into between the qualifying worker and the employer that is in force on that day. (5) But where, by virtue of subsection (4)(b), a new worker’s contract replaces another worker’s contract of a qualifying worker who is an employee— (a) that is not to be treated for the purposes of this Act as breaking the continuity of a period of employment of the qualifying worker; (b) the worker’s contract that is replaced is not to be treated for the purposes of Part 10 as having terminated. (6) A qualifying worker and an employer may agree, for the purposes of subsection (2), (3) or (4), that the variation of the qualifying worker’s terms and conditions of employment is to be treated as taking effect, or (as the case may be) the new worker’s contract is to be treated as being entered into, on a later day than the day mentioned in the subsection (and, in subsection (4)(b), the reference to “that day” is then to be read as a reference to the later agreed day). (7) If a qualifying worker to whom a guaranteed hours offer has been made does not give notice under subsection (1) before the end of the response period, the qualifying worker is to be treated as having rejected the offer. (8) The Secretary of State may by regulations make provision about— (a) the form and manner in which notice under subsection (1) must be given by a qualifying worker to an employer; (b) when notice given by a qualifying worker to an employer under subsection (1) is to be treated as having been given. (9) In this section, “the response period” has the same meaning as in section 27BD. (10) Where— (a) an employer is permitted by section 27BY(3) to withdraw a guaranteed hours offer (withdrawal of offer following incorporation of terms of collective agreement), and (b) the employer withdraws the offer by giving notice under that section, subsection (1) of this section ceases to apply in relation to the offer when the notice is given. (27BF) (1) An employer who employs a worker who it is reasonable to consider might become a qualifying worker of the employer in relation to a reference period (whether the initial reference period, or a subsequent reference period, as defined in section 27BA) must take reasonable steps, within the initial information period, to ensure that the worker is aware of specified information relating to the rights conferred on workers by this Chapter. (2) An employer who is subject to the duty in subsection (1) in relation to a worker must take reasonable steps to ensure that, after the end of the initial information period, the worker continues to have access to the specified information referred to in that subsection at all times when— (a) the worker is employed by the employer, and (b) it is reasonable to consider that the worker might become (or might again become) a qualifying worker of the employer in relation to a reference period. (3) “The initial information period”, in relation to a worker and the worker’s employer, means the period of two weeks beginning with— (a) where the worker is employed by the employer on the day on which section 27BA(1) comes into force (“the commencement day”), the commencement day, or (b) where the worker is not so employed, the first day after the commencement day on which the worker is employed by the employer. (4) But where, on the day referred to in subsection (3)(a) or (b), it was not reasonable to consider that the worker might become a qualifying worker of the employer in relation to any reference period, subsection (3) is to be read as if it provided for “the initial information period” to mean the period of two weeks beginning with the day on which it becomes reasonable so to consider. (27BG) (1) A worker may present a complaint to an employment tribunal that— (a) the duty imposed by section 27BA(1) applies to the worker’s employer in relation to the worker and a particular reference period, but (b) by the end of the last day of the offer period, the employer has not made an offer to vary the worker’s terms and conditions of employment or to enter into a new worker’s contract in compliance (or purported compliance) with that duty (whether because the employer does not consider that the worker is a qualifying worker in relation to the reference period or for any other reason). (2) A worker may present a complaint to an employment tribunal that— (a) the duty imposed by section 27BA(1) applies to the worker’s employer in relation to the worker and a particular reference period, but (b) the offer that the employer has made to the worker in relation to that reference period to vary the worker’s terms and conditions of employment or to enter into a new worker’s contract is not a guaranteed hours offer as described in— (i) where regulations are in force under subsection (2) of section 27BB that apply in relation to the offer, subsections (1) and (3) of that section (read with any regulations in force under subsection (5)(a) or (b) of that section), or (ii) where no regulations are in force under subsection (2) of section 27BB that apply in relation to the offer, subsections (1) and (4) of that section (read with any regulations in force under subsection (5)(a) of that section). (3) A worker may present a complaint to an employment tribunal that— (a) the duty imposed by section 27BA(1) applies to the worker’s employer in relation to the worker and a particular reference period, but (b) the guaranteed hours offer that the employer has made to the worker in relation to that reference period— (i) takes the form of an offer to vary the worker’s terms and conditions of employment where that is prohibited by section 27BB(6), (ii) does not comply with section 27BB(7), or (iii) does not comply with section 27BB(8). (4) A worker may present a complaint to an employment tribunal that— (a) the duty imposed by section 27BA(1) applies to the worker’s employer in relation to the worker and a particular reference period, but (b) the guaranteed hours offer that the employer has made to the worker in relation to that reference period is on terms requiring the employer to provide, and the worker to do, less work than would have been the case if the employer had not, during that reference period— (i) limited (by whatever means, including termination of a worker’s contract or an arrangement) the number of hours of work made available to the worker, or (ii) decided to make work available to the worker in the way that the employer did, for the sole or main purpose of being able to comply with the duty by making such a reduced offer. (5) A worker may present a complaint to an employment tribunal that the duty imposed by section 27BA(1) would have applied to the worker’s employer in relation to the worker and a particular reference period if the employer had not, during that reference period— (a) limited (by whatever means, including termination of a worker’s contract or an arrangement) the number of hours of work made available to the worker, or (b) decided to make work available to the worker in the way that the employer did, for the sole or main purpose of preventing the worker from satisfying, in relation to that reference period, one or more of the conditions in section 27BA(3)(b) to (d). (6) A complaint under subsection (2), (3) or (4)— (a) may be presented whether or not the offer in question has been accepted by the worker, but (b) may not be presented in relation to an offer that is— (i) treated as having been withdrawn by virtue of section 27BD(2) or regulations under section 27BD(6), or (ii) withdrawn in accordance with section 27BY(3) (withdrawal of offer following incorporation of terms of collective agreement). (7) A worker may present a complaint to an employment tribunal that the worker’s employer— (a) has failed to give to the worker a notice under section 27BD(8) or (9); (b) has given to the worker a notice under section 27BD(8) or (9)(b) in circumstances in which the employer should not have done so; (c) has given to the worker a notice in purported compliance with section 27BD(9) that does not refer to any provision of the regulations or refers to the wrong provision. (8) A worker may present a complaint to an employment tribunal that the worker’s employer has failed to comply with— (a) the duty imposed by section 27BF(1); (b) the duty imposed by section 27BF(2). (9) In this section “the last day of the offer period”, in relation to a reference period, means the day specified under section 27BB(11)(a) as the last day on which a guaranteed hours offer may be made in relation to that reference period. (27BH) (1) An employment tribunal must not consider a complaint under section 27BG(1) unless it is presented before the end of the period of six months beginning with the day after the last day of the offer period (as defined in section 27BG(9)). (2) An employment tribunal must not consider a complaint under section 27BG(2) unless it is presented before the end of the period of six months beginning with the day after the day when the offer referred to in that provision is made. (3) An employment tribunal must not consider a complaint under section 27BG(3) or (4) unless it is presented before the end of the period of six months beginning with the day after the day when the guaranteed hours offer referred to in that provision is made. (4) An employment tribunal must not consider a complaint under section 27BG(5) unless it is presented before the end of the period of six months beginning with the day after what would have been the last day of the offer period (as defined in section 27BG(9)) if the duty imposed by section 27BA(1) had applied. (5) An employment tribunal must not consider a complaint under section 27BG(7)(a) relating to a notice unless it is presented before the end of the period of six months beginning with the day after the day on or before which the notice should have been given (see section 27BD(8) and (10)). (6) An employment tribunal must not consider a complaint under section 27BG(7)(b) or (c) relating to a notice unless it is presented before the end of the period of six months beginning with the day after the day on which the notice is given. (7) An employment tribunal must not consider a complaint under section 27BG(8)(a)unless it is presented before the end of the period of six months beginning with the day after the last day of the initial information period (see section 27BF(3) and (4)). (8) An employment tribunal must not consider a complaint under section 27BG(8)(b) unless it is presented before the end of the period of six months beginning with the day on which the worker first becomes aware of the failure to which the complaint relates. (9) But, if the employment tribunal is satisfied that it was not reasonably practicable for a complaint under section 27BG to be presented before the end of the relevant period of six months, the tribunal may consider the complaint if it is presented within such further period as the tribunal considers reasonable. (10) Section 207B (extension of time limits to facilitate conciliation before institution of proceedings) applies for the purposes of subsections (1) to (8). (27BI) (1) Where an employment tribunal finds a complaint under section 27BG well-founded, the tribunal— (a) must make a declaration to that effect, and (b) may make an award of compensation to be paid by the employer to the worker. (2) The amount of compensation under subsection (1)(b) is to be such amount, not exceeding the permitted maximum, as the tribunal considers just and equitable in all the circumstances to compensate the worker for any financial loss sustained by the worker which is attributable to the matter complained of. (3) In ascertaining the financial loss sustained, the tribunal must apply the same rule concerning the duty of a person to mitigate their loss as applies to damages recoverable under the common law of England and Wales or (as the case may be) Scotland. (4) For the purposes of subsection (2), “the permitted maximum” is— (a) where the complaint is under section 27BG(1), (2), (3), (7) or (8), such number of weeks’ pay as the Secretary of State may specify in regulations; (b) where the complaint is under section 27BG(4) or (5), such amount as the Secretary of State may specify in regulations. (5) In calculating a week’s pay for the purposes of determining the permitted maximum for an award of compensation to a worker who is not an employee, Chapter 2 of Part 14 is to apply as if— (a) references in that Chapter and in section 234 (normal working hours) to an employee were references to a worker; (b) references in that Chapter and in section 234 to a contract of employment were references to a worker’s contract; (c) “week” meant— (i) in relation to a worker whose remuneration is calculated weekly by a week ending with a day other than a Saturday, a week ending with that other day, and (ii) in relation to any other worker, a week ending with Saturday.

Shifts: rights to reasonable notice

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After section 27BI of the Employment Rights Act 1996 (inserted by section 1) insert—

(27BJ) (1) An employer must give to a worker reasonable notice of a shift that the employer requests or requires the worker to work if— (a) the worker is (or is to be) employed by the employer under a zero hours contract, or (b) the worker is (or is to be) employed by the employer under a worker’s contract of a specified description that requires the employer to make some work available to the worker but does not provide on what days and at what times, or in accordance with what pattern of days and times, that work is to be done by the worker, and the shift is to be worked under the contract referred to in paragraph (a) or (b). (2) An employer must give to a worker reasonable notice of a shift that the employer requests or requires the worker to work if— (a) the worker is (or is to be) employed by the employer under a worker’s contract of a specified description that requires the employer to make some work available to the worker, (b) the contract provides on what days and at what times, or in accordance with what pattern of days and times, that work, or some of that work, is to be done by the worker, and (c) the shift is to be worked under that contract but no part of it corresponds to the time of a shift provided for by the contract as described in paragraph (b). (3) An employer must give to an individual reasonable notice of a shift that the employer requests the individual to work if— (a) the individual would, if they worked the shift, be employed by the employer under a worker’s contract, and (b) the worker’s contract would be entered into in accordance with a zero hours arrangement that is in place between the employer and the individual. (4) It is to be presumed, unless the contrary is shown, that notice of a shift is not reasonable notice for the purposes of subsections (1) to (3) if it is given less than a specified amount of time before the shift is due to start. (5) Regulations under subsection (1)(b) or (2)(a)may, in particular, specify a description of worker’s contract by reference to— (a) it being a worker’s contract that entitles a worker to be paid no more than a specified amount; (b) it being a worker’s contract that requires an employer to make work available to a worker for no more than a specified number of hours. (6) Where— (a) the conditions in subsection (2)(a) and (b) are met in relation to a worker and a worker’s contract, (b) the worker is to work (or is working) a shift under that contract all or part of which corresponds to the time of a shift (a “guaranteed shift”) provided for by the contract as described in subsection (2)(b), (c) the employer requests or requires the worker to start earlier, or end later, than is provided for by the contract (as described in subsection (2)(b)) in relation to the guaranteed shift, and (d) the earlier start or later end is to result in an additional number of hours being worked above the number of hours to be worked in the guaranteed shift, the additional hours are to be treated for the purposes of this Chapter as a separate shift (and accordingly as one that meets the condition in subsection (2)(c)). (7) For the purposes of this Chapter— - “employer”, in relation to an individual and a shift, includes a person by whom the individual would be (or would have been) employed if the individual worked the shift; - “worker”, in relation to a shift, includes an individual who would be (or would have been) a worker if the individual worked the shift. (8) In this section, “notice of a shift” means notice of how many hours are to be worked and when the shift is to start and end. (27BK) (1) Subsection (2) applies in relation to an employer and a worker where— (a) the employer has given notice of a shift to the worker, (b) the shift is one that the worker was entitled to reasonable notice of under section 27BJ(1), (2) or (3), and (c) where the shift is one that the employer has requested (rather than required) the worker to work, the worker has agreed to work it. (2) The employer must give reasonable notice to the worker of— (a) the cancellation of the shift by the employer; (b) any change requested or required by the employer consisting of— (i) a change to when the shift is to start or end; (ii) a reduction in the number of hours to be worked during the shift because of a break in the shift; (but this is subject to section 27BM). (3) It is to be presumed, unless the contrary is shown, that— (a) notice of the cancellation of a shift is not reasonable notice for the purposes of subsection (2) if it is given less than a specified amount of time before the shift would have started (if the shift had not been cancelled); (b) notice of a change to when a shift is to start is not reasonable notice for the purposes of subsection (2) if it is given less than a specified amount of time before the earlier of— (i) when the shift would have started (if the shift had not been changed), and (ii) when the shift is due to start (having been changed); (c) notice of any other change to a shift is not reasonable notice for the purposes of subsection (2) if it is given— (i) less than a specified amount of time before the shift is due to start; (ii) on or after the start of the shift. (4) In this section, “notice of a shift” has the same meaning as in section 27BJ. (27BL) (1) None of the duties imposed by sections 27BJ and 27BK applies in relation to a shift that would be (or would have been) worked, or is being worked, by a worker as an agency worker (but see Part 2 of Schedule A1 for provision about rights of agency workers to reasonable notice in relation to shifts). (2) Where a worker suggests working a shift and the employer agrees to the suggestion— (a) the duties imposed by section 27BJ(1), (2) and (3) do not apply in relation to the shift as suggested by the worker, but (b) the duty imposed by section 27BK(2) applies (even though the conditions in section 27BK(1) have not been met). (3) Section 27BJ(6) applies for the purposes of subsection (2) of this section as if section 27BJ(6)(c) referred to what the worker suggests rather than what the employer requests or requires. (4) In sections 27BJ and 27BK, references to a request to work a shift made by an employer to a worker include a request (a “multi-worker request”) made by the employer to the worker and one or more others in circumstances where the employer does not need the shift to be worked by all of those to whom the request is made. (5) For the purposes of section 27BK, where an employer has made a multi-worker request to a worker in relation to a shift, references to the cancellation of the shift include the worker not being needed to work the shift because one or more others have agreed to work it. (6) The Secretary of State may by regulations make provision about— (a) the form and manner in which notice under sections 27BJ and 27BK must be given; (b) when notice under those sections is to be treated as having been given. (27BM) (1) Where an employer— (a) is required to make a payment to a worker under section 27BP in relation to a shift that the employer cancels, moves or curtails at short notice, or (b) would have been required to make such a payment in relation to the shift but for provision made under section 27BR(1)(c), nothing in section 27BK(2) is to be taken to have applied in relation to the cancellation, movement or curtailment of the shift that gave rise to, or would have given rise to, the requirement to make the payment. (2) Terms used in this section have the same meaning as in section 27BP. (27BN) (1) A worker may present a complaint to an employment tribunal that the worker’s employer has failed to comply with a duty imposed by section 27BJ or 27BK. (2) Where, in determining whether a complaint under this section is well-founded, the tribunal must determine whether reasonable notice has been given, the tribunal must have regard, in particular, to such of the specified matters as are appropriate in the circumstances. (3) An employment tribunal must not consider a complaint under this section unless it is presented before the end of the period of six months beginning with— (a) where the complaint is that the employer failed to comply with a duty imposed by section 27BJ(1), (2) or (3) in relation to a shift, the day on which the shift was due to start; (b) where the complaint is that the employer failed to comply with the duty imposed by section 27BK(2) in relation to the cancellation of a shift, the day on which the shift would have started (if the shift had not been cancelled); (c) where the complaint is that the employer failed to comply with the duty imposed by section 27BK(2) in relation to a change to a shift, the day on which the shift as changed was due to start or, where the shift was changed on or after its start, the day on which the shift started. (4) But, if the employment tribunal is satisfied that it was not reasonably practicable for a complaint to be presented before the end of the relevant period of six months, the tribunal may consider the complaint if it is presented within such further period as the tribunal considers reasonable. (5) Section 207B (extension of time limits to facilitate conciliation before institution of proceedings) applies for the purposes of subsection (3). (27BO) (1) Where an employment tribunal finds a complaint under section 27BN well-founded, the tribunal— (a) must make a declaration to that effect, and (b) may make an award of compensation to be paid by the employer to the worker. (2) The amount of compensation under subsection (1)(b) in relation to a complaint is to be such amount, not exceeding the specified amount, as the tribunal considers just and equitable in all the circumstances to compensate the worker for any financial loss sustained by the worker which is attributable to the matter complained of. (3) In ascertaining the financial loss sustained, the tribunal must apply the same rule concerning the duty of a person to mitigate their loss as applies to damages recoverable under the common law of England and Wales or (as the case may be) Scotland.

Right to payment for cancelled, moved and curtailed shifts

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After section 27BO of the Employment Rights Act 1996 (inserted by section 2) insert—

(27BP) (1) An employer must make a payment of a specified amount to a worker each time that the employer cancels, moves or curtails at short notice a qualifying shift— (a) that the employer has informed the worker they are required to work, (b) that the employer has requested the worker to work and the worker has agreed to work, or (c) that the worker has suggested working and the employer has agreed to the worker working, (but see section 27BR for exceptions to this duty). (2) A shift is a “qualifying shift”, in relation to a worker and an employer, if it would be (or would have been) worked, or is being worked, by the worker for the employer under— (a) a zero hours contract, (b) a worker’s contract entered into in accordance with a zero hours arrangement, or (c) a worker’s contract of a specified description that requires the employer to make some work available to the worker but does not provide on what days and at what times, or in accordance with what pattern of days and times, that work is to be done by the worker. (3) A shift is also a “qualifying shift”, in relation to a worker and an employer, if— (a) it would be (or would have been) worked, or is being worked, by the worker for the employer under a worker’s contract of a specified description that requires the employer to make some work available to the worker, (b) the contract provides on what days and at what times, or in accordance with what pattern of days and times, that work, or some of that work, is to be done by the worker, and (c) no part of the shift corresponds to the time of a shift provided for by the contract as described in paragraph (b). (4) Where— (a) the conditions in subsection (3)(a) and (b) are met in relation to a shift, (b) all or part of the shift corresponds to the time of a shift (a “guaranteed shift”) provided for by the contract as described in subsection (3)(b), (c) the employer requests or requires, or the worker suggests, that the worker starts earlier, or ends later, than is provided for by the contract (as described in subsection (3)(b)) in relation to the guaranteed shift, and (d) the earlier start or later end is to result in an additional number of hours being worked above the number of hours to be worked in the guaranteed shift, the additional hours are to be treated for the purposes of this Chapter as a separate shift (and accordingly as a “qualifying shift”). (5) A payment that an employer is required to make under subsection (1) must be made by no later than the specified day. (6) For the purposes of this Chapter, “short notice” means— (a) in relation to the cancellation of a shift, notice given less than a specified amount of time before the shift would have started (if the shift had not been cancelled); (b) in relation to the movement of a shift, or the movement and curtailment (at the same time) of a shift, notice given— (i) less than a specified amount of time before the earlier of when the shift would have started (if the shift had not been moved, or moved and curtailed) and when the shift is due to start (having been moved, or moved and curtailed); (ii) on or after the start of the shift; (c) in relation to the curtailment of a shift where there is a change to when the shift is to start (but there is no movement of the shift), notice given less than a specified amount of time before the earlier of— (i) when the shift would have started (if there had not been the change), and (ii) when the shift is due to start (the change having been made); (d) in relation to the curtailment of a shift where there is no change to when the shift is to start, notice given— (i) less than a specified amount of time before the shift is due to start; (ii) on or after the start of the shift. (7) The Secretary of State may by regulations make provision about when notice of the cancellation, movement or curtailment of a shift is to be treated as having been given by an employer to a worker. (8) For the purposes of this Chapter— - “employer”, in relation to an individual and a shift, includes a person by whom the individual would be (or would have been) employed if the individual worked the shift; - “worker”, in relation to a shift, includes an individual who would be (or would have been) a worker if the individual worked the shift. (9) For the purposes of this Chapter, references to the movement of a shift (however expressed)— (a) are to any change to the time at which the shift is to start that is a change of more than a specified amount of time; (b) include— (i) where a shift is in two or more parts, a change of more than a specified amount of time to the time at which the second (or a subsequent) part is to start, and (ii) a division of a shift into two or more parts where the time between the parts is more than a specified amount of time, but only if the change or division (as the case may be) results in the shift ending later. (10) In this Chapter, references to a request to work a shift made by an employer to a worker include a request (a “multi-worker request”) made by the employer to the worker and one or more others in circumstances where the employer does not need the shift to be worked by all of those to whom the request is made. (11) For the purposes of this Chapter, where an employer has made a multi-worker request to a worker in relation to a shift, references to the cancellation of the shift (however expressed) include the worker not being needed to work the shift because one or more others have agreed to work it. (27BQ) (1) Regulations under section 27BP(1) may not specify an amount to be paid to a worker in relation to the cancellation, movement or curtailment of a shift that exceeds— (a) where the shift is cancelled, the amount of remuneration to which the worker would have been entitled had they worked the hours that will not be worked because of the cancellation; (b) where the shift is moved, or moved and curtailed (at the same time), and no part of the shift as moved, or as moved and curtailed, corresponds to the time of the shift (“the original shift”) before it was moved, or moved and curtailed, the amount of remuneration to which the worker would have been entitled had they worked the original shift; (c) where the shift is moved, or moved and curtailed (at the same time), and part of the shift as moved, or as moved and curtailed, corresponds to the time of the original shift (but part does not), the amount of remuneration to which the worker would have been entitled had they worked the part of the original shift that does not correspond to the shift as moved, or as moved and curtailed; (d) where the shift is— (i) curtailed but not moved, or (ii) moved and curtailed (at the same time) and the shift as moved and curtailed is to start and end within the time of the original shift, the amount of remuneration to which the worker would have been entitled had they worked the hours that will not be worked because of the curtailment, or the movement and curtailment. (2) Regulations under section 27BP(1) may, in particular, include provision specifying different amounts depending on the amount of notice that was given of the cancellation, movement or curtailment. (3) Regulations under section 27BP(2)(c) or (3)(a) may, in particular, specify a description of worker’s contract by reference to— (a) it being a worker’s contract that entitles a worker to be paid no more than a specified amount; (b) it being a worker’s contract that requires an employer to make work available to a worker for no more than a specified number of hours. (4) Regulations under section 27BP(6) may not specify an amount of time that exceeds 7 days. (27BR) (1) The requirement to make a payment under section 27BP(1) does not apply— (a) in relation to a shift that would be (or would have been) worked, or is being worked, by a worker as an agency worker (but see Part 3 of Schedule A1 for provision about rights of agency workers to payment for cancelled, moved and curtailed shifts); (b) in relation to the cancellation, movement or curtailment of a shift that an employer has requested a worker to work, unless the worker reasonably believed, whether on agreeing to work the shift or at some later time before the cancellation, movement or curtailment, that they would be needed to work the shift; (c) in other specified circumstances. (2) Where, by virtue of regulations made under subsection (1)(c), an employer is not required to make a payment to a worker in relation to a shift under section 27BP(1), the employer must give a notice to the worker that— (a) states which provision of the regulations has produced the effect that the employer is not required to make the payment, and (b) explains why the employer was entitled to rely on that provision. (3) But subsection (2)(b) does not require an employer to disclose— (a) any information the disclosure of which by the employer would contravene the data protection legislation (but in determining whether a disclosure would do so, the duty imposed by that subsection is to be taken into account); (b) any information that is commercially sensitive; (c) any information the disclosure of which by the employer would constitute a breach of a duty of confidentiality owed by the employer to any other person. (4) In subsection (3)(a) “the data protection legislation” has the same meaning as in the Data Protection Act 2018 (see section 3(9) of that Act). (5) The Secretary of State may by regulations make provision about— (a) the form and manner in which a notice under this section must be given; (b) the day on or before which it must be given; (c) when a notice under this section is to be treated as having been given. (6) The duty in subsection (2) is to be taken not to have applied if— (a) the employer pays to the worker an amount in relation to a number of hours that is at least equal to the amount of the payment that the employer would have been required to make to the worker under section 27BP(1) in relation to the same number of hours but for regulations made under subsection (1)(c), and (b) the payment is made on or before the day on which the payment under section 27BP(1) would have had to be made if the employer had been required to make it. (7) Subsection (4) of section 27BS applies for the purposes of subsection (6) of this section as it applies for the purposes of subsections (2) and (3) of that section. (27BS) (1) The right of a worker to receive a payment from an employer under section 27BP(1) does not affect any right of the worker in relation to remuneration under a worker’s contract entered into between the worker and the employer (“contractual remuneration”). (2) Any contractual remuneration paid to a worker by an employer in relation to a number of hours goes towards discharging any liability of the employer to make a payment to the worker under section 27BP(1) in relation to the same hours. (3) Any payment made by an employer to a worker under section 27BP(1) in relation to a number of hours goes towards discharging any liability of the employer to pay contractual remuneration to the worker in relation to the same hours. (4) For the purposes of subsections (2) and (3), the hours to which a payment under section 27BP(1) relates are— (a) where a shift has been cancelled, the hours that would have been worked if the shift had not been cancelled; (b) where a shift has been moved, or moved and curtailed (at the same time), and no part of the shift as moved, or as moved and curtailed, corresponds to the time of the shift (“the original shift”) before it was moved, or moved and curtailed, the hours that would have been worked during the original shift; (c) where a shift has been moved, or moved and curtailed (at the same time), and part of the shift as moved, or as moved and curtailed, corresponds to the time of the original shift (but part does not), the hours that would have been worked during the part of the original shift that does not correspond to the shift as moved, or as moved and curtailed; (d) where a shift has been— (i) curtailed but not moved, or (ii) moved and curtailed (at the same time) and the shift as moved and curtailed is to start and end within the time of the original shift, the hours that would have been worked if the shift had not been curtailed, or moved and curtailed. (27BT) (1) A worker may present a complaint to an employment tribunal that the worker’s employer— (a) has failed to make the whole or any part of a payment that the employer is liable to make to the worker under section 27BP(1); (b) has unreasonably failed to give to the worker a notice under section 27BR(2); (c) has given to the worker a notice in purported compliance with section 27BR(2) that— (i) does not refer to any provision of the regulations; (ii) does not contain an explanation or contains an explanation that is inadequate or untrue. (2) An employment tribunal must not consider a complaint under subsection (1)(a) relating to a payment unless it is presented before the end of the period of six months beginning with the day after the day on or before which the payment should have been made (see section 27BP(5)). (3) An employment tribunal must not consider a complaint under subsection (1)(b) relating to a notice unless it is presented before the end of the period of six months beginning with the day after the day on or before which the notice should have been given (see section 27BR(5)(b)). (4) An employment tribunal must not consider a complaint under subsection (1)(c) relating to a notice unless it is presented before the end of the period of six months beginning with the day after the day on which the notice is given. (5) But, if the employment tribunal is satisfied that it was not reasonably practicable for a complaint under this section to be presented before the end of the relevant period of six months, the tribunal may consider the complaint if it is presented within such further period as the tribunal considers reasonable. (6) Section 207B (extension of time limits to facilitate conciliation before institution of proceedings) applies for the purposes of subsections (2) to (4). (27BU) (1) Where an employment tribunal finds a complaint under section 27BT(1)(a) well-founded, the tribunal must— (a) make a declaration to that effect, and (b) order the employer to pay to the worker the amount of the payment under section 27BP(1) which it finds is due to the worker. (2) Where an employment tribunal finds a complaint under section 27BT(1)(b) or (c) well-founded, the tribunal— (a) must make a declaration to that effect, and (b) may order the employer to make a payment to the worker of such amount, not exceeding the specified amount, as the tribunal considers just and equitable in all the circumstances. (3) But an employment tribunal may not make an order under subsection (2)(b) relating to a notice given in purported compliance with section 27BR(2) if the tribunal makes an order under subsection (1)(b) relating to the same payment to which the notice related. (4) In determining— (a) whether to make an order under subsection (2)(b), and (b) if so, how much to order the employer to pay, an employment tribunal must have regard, in particular, to the seriousness of the matter complained of.

Agency workers: guaranteed hours and rights relating to shifts

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• (1) After section 27BU of the Employment Rights Act 1996 (inserted by section 3) insert—

(27BV) (1) In this Part, “agency worker” means an individual— (a) who has a worker’s contract or an arrangement with a work-finding agency by virtue of which the individual is (or is to be) supplied to work for and under the supervision and direction of another person, (b) who does not do (or is not to do) the work under a worker’s contract with the other person, and (c) who is not (or is not to be) a party to a contract under which the individual undertakes to do the work for another party to the contract whose status is, by virtue of the contract, that of a client or customer of any profession or business undertaking carried on by the individual. (2) In this Part— (a) references to an agency worker include, where the context requires, a former agency worker, and (b) where that is the case, references in relation to the agency worker to a work-finding agency, and references (however expressed) to a person for and under the supervision and direction of whom the agency worker works, are to be read accordingly. (3) An individual is an “agency worker” for the purposes of this Part— (a) whether the individual is (or is to be) supplied to work for and under the supervision and direction of another person— (i) by the work-finding agency referred to in subsection (1)(a), or (ii) by a person other than the work-finding agency; (b) whether the individual is (or is to be) paid, for work done for and under the supervision and direction of another person— (i) by the work-finding agency referred to in subsection (1)(a), or (ii) by a person other than the work-finding agency. (4) In this Part, “work-finding agency” means a person carrying on the business (whether or not with a view to profit and whether or not in conjunction with any other business) of finding, or seeking to find, work for individuals to do for and under the supervision and direction of other persons (but not in the employment of those other persons). (5) Part 1 of Schedule A1 contains provision about guaranteed hours and agency workers. (6) Part 2 of Schedule A1 contains provision about rights of agency workers to reasonable notice in relation to shifts. (7) Part 3 of Schedule A1 contains provision about rights of agency workers to payment for shifts that are cancelled, moved or curtailed at short notice.

• (2) Schedule 1 inserts Schedule A1 into the Employment Rights Act 1996.

Collective agreements: contracting out

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• (1) The Employment Rights Act 1996 is amended as follows.

• (2) After section 27BV (inserted by section 4) insert—