Zero Hours Contract Compliance Checklist

27 Essential Requirements for UK Employers

Use this checklist to ensure your zero hours contracts comply with UK employment law. Every item must be addressed to protect both your business and your workers.

📋 Legal Foundation

Contract is in writing and provided to worker
Provided to worker within 2 months of start date
No exclusivity clause present (banned since 2015)
Clear statement that hours are not guaranteed
Worker classification correctly identified (worker vs employee)

💷 Pay & Working Time

National Minimum Wage/Living Wage rates applied correctly
Holiday pay accrual calculated correctly (12.07% method)
Accurate timesheets maintained for all workers
Payslips provided showing all hours worked
Rest breaks provided (20 minutes for 6+ hour shifts)
48-hour working week limit observed (unless worker opted out)

💼 Tax & National Insurance

PAYE system operational and compliant
Tax and National Insurance deducted correctly
RTI submissions to HMRC up to date
P60s issued annually to all workers
P45s provided when employment ends

🛡️ Insurance Requirements

Employer's Liability Insurance in place (minimum £5 million cover)
Certificate displayed where workers can see it
Zero hours workers specifically covered by insurance policy
Public Liability Insurance obtained (if applicable to your business)

⚠️ Health & Safety

Risk assessment completed before worker starts
Health and safety induction provided on first day
PPE supplied where needed and training provided
Fire safety procedures communicated and documented
Accident reporting procedures in place and understood

🔒 GDPR Compliance

Privacy notice provided before collecting worker data
Worker data stored securely with appropriate access controls
Data retention schedule documented and followed