Genevieve said: “Guidance is needed urgently on how the salary for zero-hours workers would be calculated, whether this is over the past four, eight or 12-week average.
“Many businesses that operate in the hospitality and leisure industry employ individuals on zero-hours contracts and, as this industry is at the forefront of this disaster, the Government should prioritise issuing guidance here.”
Any guidance issued so far comments that it would likely be up for negotiation between employer and employee, but this is not good enough.
Genevieve added: “Furthermore, it is not clear whether employers will have to top-up the additional 20%. When the Chancellor spoke last Friday, he said it would be up to businesses if they decided to top-up but seemed to neglect to comment on whether cutting salaries for staff by 20% would be in breach of their employment contracts and therefore against the law. Any guidance issued so far comments that it would likely be up for negotiation between employer and employee, but this is not good enough.”
Genevieve went on to say: “Where businesses could easily lay people off during these times, saving 100% of their salary costs, more is needed from the Government to encourage them to keep staff furloughed, including guidance on how they calculate their salaries, how quickly they will be able to receive funding and a statement or temporary change in employment law to allow businesses to adopt this approach without fear that they are in breach of employment law.”
For more information, please contact Genevieve Morris.
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