Guides › Work and Employment › Zero Hours Contracts: Your Rights
Zero Hours Contracts: Your Rights
On a zero hours contract you are still entitled to the National Minimum Wage, paid holiday, rest breaks, payslips and protection from discrimination. Your employer cannot stop you working for someone else: an exclusivity clause can be ignored. When your work ends you must be paid any wages and untaken holiday you are owed.
At A Glance
Your Rights
What the rules say, with a link to the official source for each.
Your Rights
The Basics
Zero hours workers are entitled to the National Minimum Wage and statutory annual leave in the same way as regular workers. Employers remain responsible for their health and safety. source
Working Elsewhere
Employers cannot stop zero hours workers from getting work elsewhere. You can ignore a contract clause banning you from working for another employer. source
Hours Cut for Asserting Rights
You are protected from detriment, such as having your hours cut without good reason, for asserting your statutory rights. source
Time Limits to Know
Miss a deadline and you can lose a right. Check the dates on your own paperwork.
- 12.07%Holiday builds upOf hours worked each pay period
Steps to Take
Step 1 of 4
Keep a record of every shift and the pay you got.
Step 2 of 4
Check your holiday and pay against the rules.
Step 3 of 4
Ask your employer to fix any shortfall.
Step 4 of 4
Get advice from Acas.
(Tap the numbers to reveal steps)
Where to Go If It Is Not Put Right
Your options, in order, and when each one applies.
Acas Helpline
Free and confidential. 0300 123 1100, Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm.
Acas Early Conciliation
You must tell Acas before you make most tribunal claims. It is free.
Good to Know
Small things that make your complaint stronger.
Rules here are for England, Scotland and Wales. Northern Ireland has its own employment law, the Labour Relations Agency and industrial tribunals; see nidirect.
Want Help?
If you would like one of our team to look at your problem, our initial case review is free. We cannot guarantee any outcome and we do not give legal advice.
Lead reviewer
Luke Marley
Founder and Lead Reviewer
Luke founded CPUK in 2026 after seeing how hard it is for ordinary people to get problems with companies put right. He oversees our guides and checks them against official sources.
Research by Katie Burt, Co-founder and Operations Lead (17 years in the care sector, including managing services for vulnerable adults), and the CPUK Research Team. Researched with AI-assisted research tools, then checked and corrected by our team.
Last checked: 15 October 2026. We are not paid by the companies we write about. Adverts never affect our guidance. Read our editorial policy.
Sources and official links
- gov.uk/contract-types-and-employer-responsibilities/zero-hour-contracts Checked 15 October 2026
- acas.org.uk/zero-hours-contracts Checked 15 October 2026
- acas.org.uk/contact Checked 8 October 2026
- acas.org.uk/early-conciliation/how-early-conciliation-works Checked 8 October 2026