Potential implementation: 2027

What is the position now?

At the moment, employers do not have to pay workers on zero hours contracts if a shift is cancelled, shortened or moved at short notice.

What is changing?

The government plans to introduce a right to compensation for certain workers, likely including those on zero-hours or low-hours contracts, when shifts are changed or cancelled at short notice.

“Short notice” will be defined in law and will be no more than seven days. If compensation is due, it will be limited to what the worker would have earned if they had worked the shift.

If an employer (or agency) fails to pay, the worker will be able to bring a claim in the employment tribunal.

These rights will also apply to agency workers. In most cases, the agency will be responsible for paying compensation, although it may be able to recover the cost from the business using the worker.

As at Feb 26