Virgin voters: would you take a zero-hours contract?

In our “Virgin voters” series, we listen to what young people and first-time voters have to say about the election issues that matter most to them. Following this week’s announcement by Ed Milliband that Labour would “put an end to exploitative zero-hours contracts”, we’re asking young people about their experiences of them – and if they can ever be a good thing.

Zero-hours contracts: why all the fuss?

Although there is no legal definition of zero-hours contracts, they usually refer to circumstances where the employer is not required to set a fixed number of hours work for the employee each week, and are not obliged to give them any hours at all.

According to the latest figures, 700,000 people are on zero-hour contacts in their main job. The contracts are common among students and young people, who often find themselves taking part-time positions to fit round their studies, or because full-time work isn’t available.

“Zero-hours contracts can work well alongside studies, but young people should be able to take on flexible work while being protected from exploitation by employers,” says Toni Pearce, president of the National Union of Students.

Unite, a trade union, says: “Employers use the contracts to cut wages, avoid holiday pay, pensions, and other benefits enjoyed by employees and agency staff. Workers are also unable to take on other work, as they are obliged to be available for work at the whim of the employer.”

For employers, zero-hours contracts provide a flexible workforce that can eliminate the need for more expensive agency staff, or solve temporary staff shortages.

And there is a plus side for employees: they get the chance to gain experience and skills without the requirement to accept offers of work. A survey last year by the Office for National Statistics found that two in three people on zero-hours contracts did not want to work more hours.

What are the main parties saying?

• In a speech last October, David Cameron said that the Conservatives would scrap “exclusive” zero-hours contracts – allowing those on them the flexibility to work for more than one organisation. Cameron came under fire over the issue in a his Battle for Number 10 TV interview, and admitted that he could not live on a zero-hours contract.
  

• The Lib Dems have also said they will band exclusive zero-hours contracts, and look to close any loopholes that may allow employers to exploit them.
  

• Labour have gone a step further, and Miliband has said that under Labour, workers on zero-hours contracts would be entitled to convert their contracts into a regular job after only three months instead of the current time frame of a year. Employees would also be entitled to compensation if shifts were cancelled at short notice.

• The Green party has been calling for a ban on zero-hours contracts since 2013, while Ukip’s stance, announced today, is along similar lines to the Conservatives – with exemptions for small businesses.

What’s the reality for students on zero-hours contracts?

‘They’re not fair to families or individuals’

John Morris, 22, a third-year politics student at Keele University, says:

View image in fullscreen

I’ve worked on a zero-hours contract as a games demonstrator throughout university. My job involves travelling the country demonstrating board and card games. It’s been perfect – the ability to take or decline work according to whether or not I’m free has been a blessing. If I’m ever stressed out by essays they understand and give me more work during the summer when I really need it.

However, I am against zero-hours contracts in general, especially ones that force the employee to work at a second’s notice, with the fear of getting sacked should they refuse. The contracts seem overused; if a company can offer you work, they should put you on a part-time or full-time contract. It’s not fair to families or individuals to never know how much money they’ve got coming in.

‘Despite the disadvantages, I’d do it again’

View image in fullscreen

Charlotte Boys, 18, a first-year mathematics with Spanish student at the University of Manchester, says:

While doing my A-levels, I was employed through a recruitment agency to serve food and drink from kiosks on match days at Norwich City Football Club. I was told the job was mine in September, but it wasn’t until Christmas Day when I got a text asking me if I was able to work Boxing Day.

After that it was fairly regular for a few months until I turned down a shift for a university interview, and then suddenly I wasn’t needed for a long time. I’d come to rely on the income for my phone contract and buying school supplies, so had to turn to my parents for money.

I had little contact with my employer, just texts telling me when I would work. At one point, when I hadn’t been asked to work for a while, they sent me a P45 with no warning.

Despite the disadvantages, I’d do it again if I was in the same situation, because even with good qualifications, getting a small amount of part-time work which allows enough time off to visit and go to interviews at universities is very difficult to find for 16- 18-year-olds.

‘It’s often a battle for hours’

Krishan (not his real name), 20, a second-year civil engineering student at Coventry University, says:

I’ve been on a zero-hours contract for two and a half years, working for a leisure company. It means I can have a job in London during university holidays and in the summer.

When I was at college, I worked at weekends and holidays – the organisation was understaffed so it wasn’t difficult to get hours. But nowadays it’s a battle for hours between other students and older colleagues who are trying to accumulate hours similar to a permanent role.

I see some minor positives to zero-hours contracts for students – you can have jobs in different cities and can turn down hours – but they’re only beneficial when the organisation is either understaffed or has a lot of hours to offer. It’s sad to hear colleagues who have families to support say “if I don’t get the hours this week then I won’t be able to pay the rent”.

‘I couldn’t have got through my studies without them’

Alexandra, 23, a developmental science PhD student at UCL, says:

I’ve worked on zero-hours contracts for seven years. I started during my A-levels at 16 in a cafe, worked in a bar throughout my undergraduate degree, and in a restaurant and as a research assistant during my master’s.

My family wasn’t poor enough for me to get assistance with my studies or my living costs, but wasn’t rich enough to bankroll me either. Zero-hours contracts were my lifeline to be able to continue on my desired career path. I won funding for my PhD, but living in London is expensive, so it’s been wonderful to work casually for a company I worked for during my master’s.

The best part about zero-hours contracts is not being obligated to your company. At exam time, I could simply drop hours. I couldn’t have got through my studies without zero-hours contracts, from A-levels until now.

‘The flexibility of my contract is useful’

Erica (not her real name), 19, a first-year business student at Northumbria University, says:

I’m on a zero-hours contract and work different hours each week, averaging 16-20 each month. I work for the university, calling students who have applied about open days and events coming up.

I find my contract very useful as I can work part-time hours that fit in with my studies, and it gives me a good financial boost while at university. Although it means I’m not always required, it still works for me and many other students, and banning them would do more harm than good.

Because the majority of people carrying out the work are students, the flexible hours are very good to fit around studies.

‘There are better ways to give students flexible employment’

Matthew Smyth, 20, a third-year law and philosophy student at the University of Liverpool, says:

The issue of zero-hours contracts and students comes up a lot, particularly in student unions. Student union management and sabbatical officers often say zero-hours contracts give students “flexibility” around their studies. But a fixed, term-time contract with low hours must be better. That way students are guaranteed a minimum income and they have employment rights. It wouldn’t prohibit them from working more hours than contracted, but allows them also to work only as little as contracted around deadlines.Zero-hours contracts aren’t a good thing, they offer only uncertainty of pay, and make it difficult to get good rights and protections in a workplace – whether you’re a student or not.

• Have you worked a zero-hours contract? What was your experience like? Let us know in the comments section below.
  

Keep up with the latest on Guardian Students: follow us on Twitter at @GdnStudents – and become a member to receive exclusive benefits and our weekly newsletter.