One in three workers receive less than a week’s notice for their shifts, representing half of those earning below the voluntary real living wage, according to a new study.
A fifth of workers have had their shifts unexpectedly canceled and most are not being paid their full rate of pay, the Living Wage Foundation said.
Her study found that many who experienced short notice periods or shift cancellations are forced to pay higher childcare costs or increase their credit use as a result.
The survey of 2,000 people found that of the 57% whose jobs involve flextime or shift work, more than half (55%) said they received less than a week’s notice to their working hours.
The foundation said its study highlighted the “extreme precariousness” of many jobs amid a deepening cost of living crisis.
The poll suggested low-wage workers, including cleaners, couriers and some NHS staff, were more affected by insecurity.
Katherine Chapman, director of the Living Wage Foundation, said: “We have known for a long time that it costs to be poor, but this research shows that it is even more expensive to be both poor and in work. precarious.
“It is shocking that half of the workers on wages below the real living wage receive less than a week’s notice, which makes it impossible to plan a life and leads to additional costs such as childcare from last minute.
“In an unfolding cost of living crisis with energy bills set to rise further, low-income households are faced with ‘heat or eat’ decisions.
“That is why we are calling on employers to join those who have already stepped up during this crisis and commit to providing workers with safe and guaranteed working hours and working hours, as well as a real living wage. “
TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady said: “No one should have to worry about having enough money to pay the bills because they don’t know what hours they will be working from week to week. another, but that’s the reality for too many people in the UK.
Angela Rayner said ‘the scourge of precarious work and poverty wages is killing too many lives’ (Dominic Lipinski/PA)
(PA wire)
“Precarious work plagues our labor market, with more than a million workers relying on zero-hour contracts to get by.
“Ministers must finally deliver the Jobs Bill they promised more than two years ago to ban zero-hours contracts. This includes setting up decent notice for shifts and compensation for canceled shifts.
Angela Rayner, Shadow Secretary of State for the Future of Work, said: “The scourge of precarious work and poverty wages is destroying too many lives. A job should bring security, prosperity and respect, and it should allow you to take care of your family.
“We need a new deal for workers. Labor is committed to ending the era of precarious work. We will end zero hour contracts and create a single “worker” status so that everyone has the employment rights they need.
“Labour will also ensure that all workers are given reasonable notice of any change in shifts or working hours, with wages in the event of cancellation without notice being paid in full to the workers.”
