Reform of zero hours working - consultation
The Government is planning to introduce restrictions on zero-hours working as part of its programme of employment reform. These are likely to have a significant impact on the homecare sector, where over a third of employees are currently on zero-hours arrangements, often due to care being purchased on a zero-hour basis.
The Employment Rights Act 2025, will give employees the right to:
- guaranteed hours, where the number of hours offered reflects the hours worked by a qualifying worker during a reference period
- reasonable notice of shifts and changes to these
- payment for shifts cancelled, curtailed or moved at short notice
Provisional timetables suggest that these rights will come into force in 2027.
The government is now consulting on the details of how these rights will apply.
The Homecare Association will prepare a response. If you would like to share your thoughts with us, please email [email protected]
We also strongly encourage members to respond directly.
We are undertaking wider advocacy work around zero-hour reform, including calling for changes to public sector commissioning practices to ensure that providers have more stable hours to offer employees. Homecare Association members can view our previous webinar on this topic: Can we have a guaranteed-hours future?
You can find the consultation here.
Respond by 25 August 2026.
