With all the fuss recently about zero-hours contracts – where workers are “employed” but may not actually get any paid work – OnTheWight thought it worth checking with the Island’s biggest employer, the Isle of Wight Council (IWC), whether they use the practice.
The answer – provided in a refreshingly straightforward way by the remodelled media team – is a clear “no”.
Casual work at an hourly rate
Zero-hours contracts hit the headlines recently when it emerged that more and more employers are using them to tie workers into what amounts to casual work at an hourly rate.
The conditions are often such that the employee cannot work for anyone else, and has difficulty claiming benefits, even though the number of hours work available may be very small.
Response from the council
The IWC, responding to an OnTheWight enquiry, explained that it “doesn’t employ anyone under zero-hours contracts whereby the employee agrees to be available for work as and when required so that no particular number of hours or times of work are specified”.
What they do have, explained the media spokesperson, is a bank of about 700 casual staff who may be called on in emergencies or for one-off projects. Examples include marshalls for Cowes Week fireworks night, and relief home carers and residential care workers.
The spokesperson was keen to stress that this arrangement places no obligation on the worker to accept any of the work offered.
This all seems fairly clear. The figure of 700 seems high, though, so if readers can throw any light on other jobs that might be included, we’d love to know.
