Zero Hour Contracts

I agree completely - I have shared on Facebook.

Well said, Backagain.

BAnanas, I agree with all you say, and thank you for posting it on GN and thus drawing attention to it.
I thought it was bad enough a few years ago when DD took unpaid internships in London after her Art History degree. Very prestigious establishments they were too, but they didn't even pay her travel expenses. Just unpaid labour in the name of "experience" in return for her being able to use their names in her CV. Such cynical abuse of the young.
But I am even angrier now. DS, after working away diligently, ever since he started school really, doing what he was told was the right thing, then working his way around Australia for a year supporting himself and growing up, has returned to this country to learn that his History degree is not worth the paper it is printed on. And the only work he has been able to find here (and he has been trying, believe me) is zero hours contract barwork. He just finds out each Sunday by checking the rota what, if any, hours he has been given for the following week. And he is so demoralised that he is grateful for what he gets. I am livid that this is all he is deemed to be worth. The bar has two or three people they keep on like this. I can see the advantages to the employer - they are pretty obvious - but I can't see how this practice was ever allowed to develop. How on earth can grown adults having to work like this order their lives? How can they take on normal, every day commitments, like rent, bills, household expenses......for goodness sake what about having a relationship, children to support? This is simply not a viable way of life except in the very short term for very young people earning pocket money.

Signed - I will try to share on Facebook.