The government has provided a number of means of financial support to businesses unable to operate because of Covid-19, including the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. This has no doubt protected many people's jobs. However, others, including zero hours contract workers, have found themselves unemployed or without work and been forced to claim benefits to survive. But now, a number of employers have announced plans to make staff redundant and economists expect the unemployment rate to go up to 10%.

how am i selected for redundancy?

There a number of ways for selecting staff for redundancy, but some can have a bigger effect on zero hours contract workers.
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By length of service

Some employers may look at how long you have worked with them. Those who have worked the shortest  will be made redundant first. Even if you have been working for your employer on a zero hours contract for more than two years, periods of non-work may count as breaks in continuous employment.

By staff appraisal markings

The nature of zero hours contracts means that you may not have had any or very few appraisals.

Everyone you work with is being made redundant

The employer is closing down a whole unit, operation, branch, etc.

How ever you are selected for redundancy, you are entitled to speak to your employer about why you are being made redundant and whether there are alternatives to redundancy (such as reduced hours, a pay cut,  an alternative role, etc.)

Am i entitled to redundancy pay?

You are entitled to statutory redundancy pay if you are an employee and have been employed for at least two years. Statutory redundancy pay is calculated as follows:

• ​half a week's pay for each full year you were under 22;
• one week's pay for each full year you were between 22 and 41;
• one and a half week's pay for each full year you were over 41.

What if I am without work but haven't been made redundant?

Even if you are not made redundant, you can still claim statutory redundancy pay, assuming you are eligible, if you have been temporarily laid off without pay for more than four weeks in a row or more than six, non-consecutive weeks in a 13-week period. However, you must write to your employer of your intention within four weeks of the last non-working day in the four or six week period.