Legal rights with zero-hours contracts

Questioner

Since November 2016 I have been working at a library with a zero-hours contract. Up until July 1st I worked an average of 15-25 hours per week, of which 5 hours on 1 day per week, in a school library. The other hours were to replace a sick colleague. When new colleagues were hired, these last hours were cancelled. Up until now, however, I still work an average of 15-25 hours per week, including 5 hours in the same school library. Unfortunately, my contract will not be extended and by hiring 2 new colleagues, I will have considerably fewer hours from October 1st until the end of my contract (end of November). My question is: am I entitled to continued payment of the average salary earned over the past three months? If so, how should I make this clear to my manager? Of course I also want to work the hours for which I am paid.

Lawyer

As an employee at a school library, you are entitled to a contract with the hours you have worked in the past three months, with the salary stated for this. Based on your information regarding the end of your contract, I recommend that you inform your employer of your rights through a conversation or written argument.

Lawyer

If you work an average number of hours for three months, this is considered your working hours with the corresponding salary. It is indeed important to point this out to your employer, because this can also affect the final settlement that will follow.