If you work under a zero hours contract, you may be wondering if you are entitled to holiday pay. The answer is yes – zero hours workers have the same rights to holiday pay as any other worker.
Under UK employment law, all employees are entitled to 5.6 weeks of paid annual leave per year. This includes workers on zero hours contracts, as long as they have been employed for at least 12 weeks. This means that if you work irregular hours or vary your hours from week to week, you are still entitled to holiday pay.
It’s important to remember that even if your contract is zero hours, it is still a contract of employment and therefore you are entitled to all the same rights as someone on a fixed hours contract. This includes the right to annual leave, sick pay, and other employment benefits.
The amount of holiday pay you are entitled to will depend on how many hours you have worked and how much you are paid per hour. Your employer should calculate your holiday pay based on your average weekly earnings over the past 12 weeks.
Some employers may try to avoid paying holiday pay by arguing that their workers are self-employed. However, if you work under a zero hours contract and you are treated like an employee (for example, you are told what to do, when to do it, and how to do it), you are likely to be classified as a worker rather than self-employed. This means you are entitled to holiday pay and other employment rights.
If you are unsure about your rights as a zero hours worker, it’s important to speak to your employer or seek legal advice. Remember – you are entitled to the same rights and protections as any other worker, regardless of your contract type.