Zero hours workers are as happy as other employees, research shows

Less pressure and better work-life balance supports personal well-being among zero-hours contract employees

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Zero hours contracts – where employers can hire staff with no guarantee of work – are often associated with low quality of work on unfair terms.

However, UK workers on the controversial contracts achieve similar job satisfaction, better work-life balance and fell less pressure in comparison to their counterparts on permanent, full-time contracts, according to a new survey.

More than 60 per cent of zero hour workers are happy with their work-life balance, while 32 per cent feel under excessive pressure at work several times a week, compared to a much significant 41 per cent of all employees, according to a new research by CIPD, the professional body for HR and people development.

The survey also found the proportion of zero-hours contract workers who are either very satisfied or satisfied with their jobs is 65 per cent, slightly higher to 63 per cent for all employees.

The number of people on zero hours contracts recorded by official statistics has sharply increased in the last year, according to the Office for National Statistics. Critics say it allows employers to exploit workers and mean that people cannot rely on receiving enough wages to pay the bills despite needing to be constantly available for work.

According to Peter Cheese, Chief Executive of the CIPD, zero hours contracts are now becoming a permanent feature of the UK labour market, and employees don’t always see their jobs in such negative light as said.

“Contract type isn’t usually the main factor driving someone’s job satisfaction. How people are managed, the work load they are under and their relationship with their line manager are usually more important,” he said.

However, the study finds there is room for improvement when it comes to career progression.

Less than half of zero contract hours employees feel fully or fairly well-informed about what is going on at work. A higher proportion see fewer ways to progress and improve their skills, despite 82 per cent of employers saying their staff are eligible for training and development.

“Well-managed zero-hours contracts can be an effective means of matching the needs and requirements of modern business and modern working lives, but as the numbers continues to rise, it’s important that employers understand how to make this match.

“And we’re seeing an increasing number of people on zero-hours contracts for long periods, years in some cases, so getting this match right is more important than ever,” said Mark Beatson, chief economist at the CIPD.