Workers lose out on holiday due to ’deliberate dirty tactics’ by bosses - Citizens Advice
ZERO hours contract and temporary workers have been conned out of holiday pay by unscrupulous bosses, says a new report.
Half of zero hours workers are unaware they are entitled to paid holidays
Around 50 per cent of workers on zero hours contracts and 40 per cent of people on temporary contracts have been misled by employers into believing they are not entitled to paid holidays.
A study by Citizens Advice found some employers were deliberately flouting the law and exploiting workers' confusion, while others lost out due to bosses' ignorance about holiday entitlement.
The charity called on the next government to ensure workers are aware of, and are able to take, the paid holiday that they are entitled to.
Citizens Advice has called on the next government to ensure workers are aware of all their rights
John McDonnell on Labour's aim to improve workers rights
Thousands are missing out on rights they are entitled to
Gillian Guy, the Chief executive, said: "Thousands are missing out on rights they are entitled to due to a lack of awareness, confusion and in some cases deliberate dirty tactics by employers.
"With more than half of employers having staff working shifts or variable hours, action needs to be taken now to protect workers' rights."
In the last financial year almost 185,000 people got help from Citizens Advice on employment issues, with 10,000 cases specifically about paid holiday.
Citizens Advice dealt with 10,000 cases related to paid holiday last year
One man Citizens Advice helped worked in a care home for over five years, working 48 hours a week.
His employer told him night workers are not entitled to paid holiday, depriving him of £8,900, while a woman who worked in the sales sector was told she could only take holiday if she met her sales targets, which is unlawful, said Citizens Advice.