Just helping someone with a problem with a large employer who uses these contracts - a bit of a minefield for all - anyone got any feedback on situations when employee can do some of the requested hours but not all - possibly in this case employer specifying some hours of work they know employee cannot do in order to terminate contract?
"A zero-hour contract (or zero-hours contract) is a recent type of contract under which an employer does not guarantee the employee a fixed number of hours per week. Rather, the employee is expected to be on-call and receive compensation only for hours worked.
Sutherland and Canwell have defined zero hour contract as an arrangements between an employer and an employee who has agreed to be available for work as and when required, therefore no particular number of hours of times of work are specified Zero hour contracts may suit some people who want occasional earnings, but they do run the risk of being misused, for instance when employees are asked to stop work during quiet periods but remain on the premises in case they are needed."