A zero hour contract is a contract between an employer and an employee in which the employer is not obliged to provide any minimum number of working hours, and the employee is not obliged to accept any work that is offered.

The main advantage of a zero hour contract for the employer is that they have complete flexibility in terms of staffing levels, and can therefore respond quickly to changes in demand. The main advantage for the employee is that they can choose to work only when they need or want to, which can be helpful if they have other commitments such as childcare or study.

The main disadvantage of a zero hour contract for the employer is that they may have difficulty attracting and retaining good quality staff, as employees may be reluctant to commit to a job with no guaranteed hours. The main disadvantage for the employee is that they may have difficulty making ends meet if they are only able to work irregular hours.

Zero hour contracts have been controversial in recent years, with some critics arguing that they are unfair to employees and exploit workers who are in a vulnerable position. However, many businesses argue that they are a necessary and efficient way to operate, and that employees on zero hour contracts are no worse off than employees on other types of flexible contracts.