Zero hours contracts lead to anxiety, stress and depression, study finds

More evidence linking zero hours contracts to financial insecurity, anxiety and stress in the workforce has emerged from a study from the University of Cambridge.

Strategies such as extreme part-time contracts, key-time contacts and frequent labour matching, as well as zero-hours employment, were all experienced as a form of job insecurity for employees, the researchers found.

“It shows that a range of flexible employment practices – extending far beyond just zero-hour contracts – cause widespread anxiety, stress and ‘depressed mental states’ in workers as a result of financial and social uncertainty, and can block worker access to education as well as much-needed additional income,” says lead researcher Brendan Burchell.

The report’s authors say the UK government should widen the net in reviewing damaging employment practices, arguing that employees should have the right to make statutory claims to work additional core hours and help plan their work schedules.

The research was based on interviews with UK and US supermarket workers and union officials, as well as months of shop-floor observation.

The findings were included in a report submitted to the government consultation on zero hour contracts at the request of the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills.

RoSPA press release