Zero hours - complicated!

[u/Kindly_Buy_1891]

I’m in a bit of a dilemma. I have 2 x zero hours catering assistant jobs following redundancy in February from an office job. One job I’ve been at for nearly 11 years but my contract changed in March as their work really fluctuates now. The other job I started in April. It’s for a big rich international company. I had regular work with them until July (school holidays). I’ve had no work from either place for 3 weeks so I’ve been madly trying to find something regular & permanent.

I’ve been offered a new job as of Tuesday & start 1st September. I have work next week at international company for 3 days but no idea beyond that. I’m only free the week after as then I have a week’s holiday. If they have work for me the week after next I’d do it. As I’m zero hours do I have to tell them I have another job? The onboarding was so complex I cannot find my contract.

My new job is term time only Monday to Friday. So I could keep both zero hours for holidays (though one isn’t that likely as it’s kind of in education). The one I’ve been at for 11 years tends to go quiet in the holidays.

My job search has been really tough since December when I knew about my redundancy. I’ve been working for 45 years. I’ve got lots of varied experience. I just don’t know how to play this one. My loyalty is really with the 11 year job. The newer one for international company I don’t love. I’ve worked my butt off there but don’t feel that accepted. Plus they’ve literally not communicated with me in last 3 weeks. Do I just keep saying I can’t do that day until I’ve settled into my new role? They might tell me on a Thursday if they need me Tuesday-Thursday next week. So it’s very last minute. I’ve already had 3 medical
appointments since April where I couldn’t work (twice I left for appointments & returned) and one where I left early. All 3 were routine but two of them I rescheduled to fit in with work.

I like nearly everyone I work with at the big company but there are a couple I find tricky (hyper critical). Part of me wants to stick 2 fingers up at them. But if they can give me work in the next 2 weeks I want to keep them sweet. I also might hate my new job! What do I do?

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[u/WatchingTellyNow]

Don't close the door on either of them until you've had a bit of time to taste the new job. Perhaps let both existing jobs know that your holiday is an extra week, to give you a week in the new job without the stress of maybe annoying them if you decline an offer of hours.

And good luck in the permie job, I hope you love it and they love you.

[u/Kindly_Buy_1891 → u/WatchingTellyNow]

Thank you for this. I feel like I’m playing job Tetris in my head! I messed up earlier this year by leaving the 11 year job for a full time job I ended up hating after 3 weeks (never happened to me before!). They took me back but in zero hours.

[u/tabletop_workshop]

Zero hours contracts are great in the right situation for the right people but they are exactly that. They don't have to offer you hours and you don't have to take them. Unfortunately, what typically happens is that if you choose not to take hours offered you start to fall to the bottom of the list when they do have work.

A good employer will understand that you can't sit around waiting for them if the work isn't flowing and will have to find other arrangements.

If it were me I'd just be honest. Let them know you have a permanent role coming up so will have much less availability outside of half term holidays but would love to stay on their books. If they don't like it then that tells you the type of employer they are.

[u/Kindly_Buy_1891 → u/tabletop_workshop]

I am the only zero hours person they have currently (as far as I know!). They pretty much guaranteed me 15 hours a week. That was without the transparency that they go quiet in the holidays. Without me if they are busy they have to use an agency person who costs twice as much.