What are an employee’s rights in relation to a zero hours contract?

The rules prescribed by the Organisation of Working Time Act, 1997 (“the 1997 Act”) in relation to zero hours working practices are quite complex. In essence, if an employee’s contract of employment requires him or her to make him or herself available to work in a week either, for a certain number of hours, or as and when required by the employer, or both, then this is a zero hours contract. Where an employee is employed under such a contract, and the employer fails to require the employee to work at least 25% of the time that the employee is required to be available for work, then the employee will be entitled to payment for 25% of the contract hours or 15 hours, whichever is less.