Zero hours: guaranteed hours and shift notice

Zero-hours and low-hours workers will be offered guaranteed hours reflecting the hours they regularly work over a reference period, and get reasonable notice of shifts and payment when shifts are cancelled, moved or cut short at short notice. The reference period, the “low hours” threshold and notice periods are all for regulations.

We found no commencement regulations for this change on legislation.gov.uk as of 25 October 2026. The date comes from the government roadmap and may move; details depend on regulations and consultation responses.

Who it affects

Employers using zero-hours, casual or low-hours contracts, and agency workers.

What changes

• Duty to offer guaranteed hours based on hours regularly worked.
• Reasonable notice of shifts.
• Payment for short-notice cancellations and changes.

What to do

1. Start logging the hours each casual worker actually works, week by week.
2. Record when shifts are offered, changed and cancelled.

Documents to review by 3 December 2027

• Zero and low hours arrangements (only if you use zero or low hours contracts): Weekly log of hours actually worked; Record of shift offers, changes and cancellations.

Tick these off and export the dates to your calendar in the business plan tab.

Sources

1. Employment Rights Act 2025, section 1 — Right to guaranteed hours
2. Employment Rights Act 2025, section 2 — Shifts: rights to reasonable notice
3. GOV.UK — Plan to Make Work Pay and Employment Rights Act: timeline update (updated 22 October 2026)

A summary for employers, not legal advice. Where a change depends on regulations not yet made, details may differ from this page.