**New Protections for 80,000 Workers as Employers Commit to Stable Hours and Fairer Shifts**
A landmark initiative aimed at tackling the problem of precarious employment is making significant progress in the UK, with 80,000 workers now benefitting from more predictable working hours and robust shift protections. This follows the commitment of over 200 employers to the Living Wage Foundation’s Living Hours accreditation scheme, with the number of participating businesses steadily on the rise.
The Living Hours scheme was developed in response to growing concerns over the insecurity faced by millions of workers, particularly those in sectors marked by zero-hours contracts and unreliable shift patterns. According to the Living Wage Foundation, 6.1 million people in the UK experience the difficult reality of uncertain work, which often leads to financial insecurity and difficulties in life planning.
As part of the accreditation, employers guarantee several important rights. Staff must receive notice of at least four weeks for every upcoming shift. Importantly, if a shift is cancelled within this notice window, the worker is still entitled to payment. Furthermore, companies are required to offer a minimum of 16 working hours each week, unless employees themselves ask for fewer hours. The contracts must also accurately state the hours a person actually works, ending the widespread problem of contracts that do not reflect employees’ true work patterns.
Katherine Chapman, Director of the Living Wage Foundation, commented on the progress: “Despite challenging economic times, it’s been fantastic to see such growth in businesses signing up to Living Hours, guaranteeing secure and stable working hours to their employees. Reaching 200 Living Hours employers is a significant milestone and means that 80,000 UK workers are now providing stable hours, a decent contract and minimum hours, making it possible to plan a life and a budget. We hope to see many more employers follow suit and join the Living Hours movement – it’s good for business and good for people.”
The scheme not only seeks to address financial instability, but also aims to improve wellbeing for workers, many of whom struggle to manage family or personal commitments due to erratic job schedules. According to Katherine Chapman, the stability offered enables individuals to better plan their lives and manage their finances.
The impact of irregular and unstable working patterns is especially pronounced within the gig economy, a rapidly expanding sector known for employing large numbers of freelancers and zero-hours workers. Ceri Finnegan, senior policy and public affairs manager at the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health, reflected on findings from recent research. “We know from a survey we conducted last year that irregular and unstable working hours is an issue in the gig economy. For people in the gig economy, it causes real problems. Half of the respondents to our survey said their unpredictable income causes financial struggles while their irregular working patterns mean they struggle to care for dependants or take holidays,” she explained.
Campaigners hope that these new commitments will encourage more employers to rethink their approach to workforce management, boosting not only worker satisfaction, but also workplace productivity and loyalty. There is a belief that business success and staff wellbeing go hand in hand, and efforts to address insecure work can yield dividends on both fronts.
As the cost of living crisis continues to bite, initiatives like these offer a glimmer of hope for workers seeking not only a decent wage but also the conditions necessary to lead stable, fulfilling lives. The Living Wage Foundation and its partners are optimistic that the trend towards fairer employment practices will gain further momentum.
While there is still a long way to go to fully eradicate insecure work in the UK, the achievements of the Living Hours campaign represent a positive step towards a fairer economy. With more organisations showing interest in accreditation, employees, campaigners, and employers alike will be watching closely to see how the movement unfolds in the coming months.
The ongoing dialogue between employers, unions, and advocacy organisations remains critical to ensuring progress is maintained. Ensuring that those who put in the work have access to decent hours and secure contracts is increasingly recognised as a fundamental part of responsible business practice—one that shapes not only the world of work, but wider society as well.