The government have launched (Tuesday 2nd June 2026) the consultation on Ending one- sided flexibility: reforms of zero hours and similar contracts.
The consultation – Zero Hours contracts – give your view
The consultation explores key aspects related to new rights for eligible workers to:
- Guaranteed hours
- Reasonable notice of shifts
- Payment for shifts cancelled, moved, or curtailed at short notice
This consultation provides an opportunity for stakeholders to give their views on how the zero hours contract measures should be implemented, and the government would very much welcome a response from you.
The consultation is available at: Make Work Pay: ending one-sided flexibility – reforms of zero hours and similar contracts – GOV.UK
This consultation runs for 12 weeks, so you can submit a response any time from now until Tuesday 25thAugust at 23:59pm.
Who does this apply to?
These rights apply to qualifying directly engaged and agency workers.
The rights apply differently to agency workers compared to directly engaged workers, and regulations may set out further differences in their treatment.
What is the potential impact
Those responding to the consultation may wish to read the governments impact assessments on the reforms to inform their response:
- Impact assessment: ZHCs – Right to Guaranteed Hours
- Impact_assessment_zhcss_right_reasonable_notice_shifts_payment_shifts_cancelled_moved_curtailed_short_notice.pdf
Zero hours contract factsheet
An updated zero hours contracts factsheet is also available:
Analysis of the ONS Labour Force Survey1 (LFS) from October to December 2025 shows that there are around 1.2 million people in employment on zero hours contracts in the UK, representing around 3.6% of all people in employment
PAYadvice.UK 2/6/2026
The payment for cancelled or curtailed shifts at short notice is the measure that will hit payroll hardest – tracking and paying for shifts that never happened needs new processes, not just a policy update. The 25 August deadline for responses is worth flagging too, as employers who want to shape how this lands should respond now. The distinction between directly engaged and agency workers you mention will be where the complexity lives.