✅ Updated for April 2026 — already bought? Update free

Zero Hours Contract Template

(England & Wales)

Create your zero hours contract with flexible working terms, pay rates, holiday entitlement, exclusivity clauses, and statutory rights.

Professionally drafted — structured following the Employment Rights Act 1996 and Working Time Regulations 1998 for England and Wales.

Download a professionally drafted zero hours contract template for UK employers. Also known as a casual worker agreement, zero hour agreement, or flexible hours contract. Covers no guaranteed hours clause, right to refuse work, pay rate and National Minimum Wage, holiday pay calculation at 12.07%, exclusivity ban provisions, Working Time Regulations rest breaks, Statutory Sick Pay, pension auto-enrolment, confidentiality, intellectual property, GDPR data protection, notice periods, and proper execution. Structured following Employment Rights Act 1996, Working Time Regulations 1998, and Employment Rights Act 2025 for England and Wales. Suitable for hospitality, retail, care, events, warehousing, and education sectors. Updated for April 2026 employment law changes including day-one SSP rights.

One-time payment: £20
✓ Lifetime access • ✓ Lifetime updates • ✓ Fully editable • ✓ UK Law Only • ✓ Instant download
✅ 30-day money-back guarantee*
Build your contract first — only pay when you're happy with it.
Interview and editor — both included with your purchase.
📖 Need help?

Choose your method below to get started.

🎯 Two creation methods — same professional document

Whether you prefer step-by-step guidance or a traditional form, both methods produce the identical professionally-formatted zero hours contract. Choose the style that suits you.

Recommended

Smart Interview

One screen at a time — less overwhelming, nothing missed.

  • Focused screens guide you through
  • Can't accidentally skip anything
  • See your progress as you go
Completion Time
~8 min
📋

Classic Editor

Everything on one page — faster if you know what you need.

  • See all fields at once
  • Easier to review and compare
  • Fewer clicks
Completion Time
~5 min

🔒 Your data never leaves your device — saved locally in your browser only

♻️ Unlimited use — generate contracts for every worker

📦 Save 59%: Get all 12 Employment & HR templates for £99

View HR Pack →

Who Is This Zero Hours Contract For?

One flexible template that adapts to your industry — whether you hire casual staff, bank workers, or seasonal employees.

One template, every industry: Select your industry and we'll pre-fill sensible defaults for pay rates, notice periods, training requirements, and DBS checks. Then customise everything to match exactly how your business operates.
Employment Essentials

Why You Need a Zero Hours Contract

Protect your business and workers with clear terms on flexible work, pay rights, and statutory protections

👥

Flexible Staffing

Zero hours contracts provide workforce flexibility without guaranteed hours — ideal for businesses with fluctuating demand like hospitality, retail, and events.

⚖️

Clear Legal Standing

Structured following Employment Rights Act 1996, Working Time Regulations 1998, and the 2015 exclusivity ban provisions.

🛡️

Worker Protection

Balances flexibility with statutory rights including holiday pay, minimum wage, rest breaks, and protection from discrimination.

A zero hours contract must include a no guaranteed hours clause, the worker's right to refuse shifts, pay rate at or above National Minimum Wage, holiday pay at 12.07% of hours worked, the exclusivity ban confirmation required since 2015, and Working Time Regulations rest break provisions.▼ Tap below to read more

📋

What Must Be Included in a Zero Hours Contract

A comprehensive Zero Hours Contract should clearly define:

  • Worker and employer details — Full names, addresses, and company registration details
  • Job title and duties — Clear description of the role and responsibilities
  • No guaranteed hours clause — Explicit statement that no minimum hours are guaranteed
  • Right to refuse work — Worker's right to decline offered shifts without penalty
  • Pay rate and method — Hourly rate (must meet National Minimum/Living Wage), payment frequency, and method
  • Holiday entitlement — Statutory 5.6 weeks (28 days for full-time equivalent) holiday pay calculation
  • Working time provisions — Rest breaks, weekly rest periods, and maximum working time opt-out if applicable
  • Notice periods — Notice required from both parties to end the arrangement
  • Sick pay entitlement — Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) eligibility and any enhanced provisions
  • Pension auto-enrolment — Worker's rights regarding workplace pension scheme
  • Exclusivity clause prohibition — Confirmation that worker can work for other employers (required by law)
  • Grievance and disciplinary procedures — Process for raising concerns and handling performance issues

Our contract is professionally drafted and includes all essential clauses for UK requirements.

Without a written zero hours contract, employers risk tribunal claims for employee status reclassification, backdated holiday pay awards of up to 8 years, HMRC penalties of up to 200% for minimum wage violations, and intellectual property ownership disputes.▼ Tap below to read more

⚠️

Risks of Operating Without a Written Contract

Legal and Financial Risks:

  • Employment tribunal claims: Without clear terms, workers may successfully claim they're employees entitled to full employment rights including unfair dismissal protection from day one
  • Holiday pay disputes: Ambiguous arrangements lead to expensive backdated holiday pay claims — recent case law has awarded up to 8 years of accrued holiday
  • Minimum wage violations: Unclear payment terms risk accidental underpayment and HMRC penalties of up to 200% of arrears
  • No exclusivity protection: Without a written contract, you cannot prevent workers from immediately competing with your business
  • Tax and National Insurance issues: HMRC may reclassify workers as employees, resulting in backdated PAYE and NIC bills plus penalties
  • Intellectual property disputes: Work created by workers without written IP assignment clauses may belong to the worker, not your business

Common Zero Hours Disputes:

Holiday pay calculation errors, misclassification of employment status, failure to pay for training time, unlawful deductions, discrimination claims for shift allocation, and disputes over notice periods. These claims cost UK businesses significantly each year.

Our zero hours contract template includes no guaranteed hours clause, right to refuse work, exclusivity ban confirmation, pay rate and National Minimum Wage terms, holiday pay at 12.07%, SSP entitlement, pension auto-enrolment, confidentiality, IP assignment, GDPR provisions, and proper execution blocks.▼ Tap below to read more

🎯

What's Included in Our Zero Hours Contract

Comprehensive Zero Hours Protection:

  • ✓ Complete worker and employer details section
  • ✓ Job title, duties, and reporting structure
  • ✓ Contract start date and probation period option
  • ✓ Clear "no guaranteed hours" statement
  • ✓ Right to refuse work clause (legally required)
  • ✓ No exclusivity clause (legally required since 2015)
  • ✓ Pay rate and payment frequency terms
  • ✓ Statutory holiday entitlement calculation
  • ✓ Holiday pay accrual method (12.07% for zero hours)
  • ✓ Working time and rest break provisions
  • ✓ Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) entitlement
  • ✓ Notice period requirements (both parties)
  • ✓ Workplace pension auto-enrolment clause
  • ✓ Confidentiality obligations
  • ✓ Data protection provisions (GDPR)
  • ✓ Intellectual property assignment
  • ✓ Health and safety responsibilities
  • ✓ Equality and non-discrimination clause
  • ✓ Grievance procedure reference
  • ✓ Disciplinary procedure reference
  • ✓ Termination provisions

Professionally drafted and ready to use immediately.

Related documents: Many employers also need a Employment Contract for permanent staff, an Employee Handbook, and Disciplinary & Grievance Procedures.

Critical zero hours contract mistakes include including illegal exclusivity clauses, wrong holiday pay calculations, misclassifying workers as self-employed, failing to provide written terms on day one, not paying for mandatory training time, and ignoring pension auto-enrolment obligations.▼ Tap below to read more

Common Zero Hours Contract Mistakes to Avoid

Don't Make These Critical Errors:

  • Including exclusivity clauses: It's illegal to prevent zero hours workers from working elsewhere — doing so can trigger penalties per worker.
  • No right to refuse work: Workers must be able to decline shifts without facing detriment — forcing acceptance may establish an employment relationship with full rights.
  • Wrong holiday pay calculation: Zero hours workers get 12.07% of hours worked as holiday pay, not the 5.6 weeks method used for regular employees.
  • Calling them "self-employed": Zero hours workers are workers (not employees, not self-employed) — misclassification triggers tax penalties and backdated rights.
  • No pension auto-enrolment: Zero hours workers earning over £10,000/year must be auto-enrolled in workplace pension — failure triggers Pensions Regulator fines.
  • Unpaid training time: If training is mandatory, you must pay at least National Minimum Wage for all training hours.
  • Minimum shift requirements: Requiring minimum hours (e.g., "must work at least 16 hours") contradicts zero hours status and creates employment rights.
  • No written terms within 1 day: Since 6 April 2020, written terms must be provided on or before first day of work — not within 2 months.
  • Ignoring irregular hours rules: Since April 2024, irregular hours workers (including zero hours) have new rights to reasonable notice of shifts and compensation for cancelled shifts.
  • No sick pay provisions: Zero hours workers qualify for SSP after 3 days sickness — failing to pay triggers claims and penalties.

Our contract helps avoid these costly mistakes with professionally drafted, business-ready terms.

⚠️ After you download — IMPORTANT:

Print two copies — one for you, one for the worker. Both parties should sign and date the contract. Give the worker their copy on or before their first day of work (this is a legal requirement since April 2020). Keep your signed copy in a secure personnel file.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this Zero Hours Contract legally recognised?

Yes. When completed and signed correctly, this creates a recognised legal document under UK employment law.

Our template is structured following Employment Rights Act 1996, Working Time Regulations 1998, and includes the legally required provisions since the 2015 exclusivity ban.

Zero hours contracts are widely used across the UK to engage flexible workers without guaranteed hours.

How much does a solicitor charge for a zero hours contract?

Employment solicitors typically charge £300 to £1,500+ for a bespoke zero hours contract, depending on the complexity of your arrangements and number of variations needed.

Our template is £20 one-time and provides a professionally drafted framework covering all standard clauses. Many businesses complete without additional legal costs. Consider solicitor review for complex multi-site operations or unusual working arrangements.

Do I need a solicitor?

Many businesses complete standard zero hours contracts without one. Our template includes step-by-step guidance, all standard clauses, and professional formatting.

Consider solicitor review for complex circumstances or if you operate across multiple jurisdictions.

What's the difference between a zero hours contract and a casual worker agreement?

They're essentially the same document — "casual worker agreement" is an alternative name for a zero hours contract. Both establish a flexible working arrangement with no guaranteed hours where the worker has the right to refuse shifts.

The key distinction is between workers (zero hours) and employees (permanent contracts). Zero hours workers retain statutory rights including holiday pay, minimum wage, and rest breaks, but don't typically get unfair dismissal protection or redundancy pay until qualifying periods are met.

Can I stop a zero hours worker from working elsewhere?

No. Exclusivity clauses in zero hours contracts have been illegal since May 2015.

Workers must be free to work for other employers. Including such clauses can trigger penalties and potential employment tribunal claims.

Our template includes the legally required confirmation that workers can work elsewhere.

What if UK law changes after I purchase?

You receive free lifetime updates — no subscription required, no monthly fees, ever.

We monitor UK law changes and update templates accordingly. When we release an updated version, it appears free in your My Templates page. No extra charges. No recurring fees.

Is this really £20 one-time, or will I be charged monthly?

£20 one-time. That's it. No subscriptions, no recurring fees, no "free trial" traps.

Here's what we don't do: Other sites advertise "free templates" — you spend 15 minutes filling one in, then they demand your card for a "free trial" that charges £35–£42/month when you forget to cancel. Worse, many are US-based and won't hold up under UK law. (Read about the scam)

We're different: £20 upfront for the document you actually need. Build it, preview it, pay only when you're happy. Own it forever with free lifetime updates. Based on UK law. No subscription fatigue.

Not sure where to start?

30-Day Money-Back Guarantee

We stand behind every template we sell. If something's technically wrong, we'll make it right.

You're Covered If:

  • File is corrupted or won't open
  • Missing content described on product page
  • Technical errors prevent use as described
  • File format incompatibility that prevents editing

Why you probably won't need this: You can preview the full template with watermark before purchase – so you'll know exactly what you're getting.


Bought the Wrong Template?

Mistakes happen – we get it. Within 30 days, here's how we can help:

Template Swap: We'll cancel your original and issue a different template of equal or lesser value.

Store Credit: Full purchase amount to use on any template. Never expires.

Offered at our discretion for genuine mistakes – we reserve the right to decline repeat or unreasonable requests.


How to Request:

Email [email protected] within 30 days with your order number.

We aim to respond within 2 business days. Approved refunds processed within 5 business days.