The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has responded to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science & Trade’s consultation on reforming zero hours contracts, urging the Government not to undermine the local, secure and flexible employment opportunities offered in the convenience sector.
The Government is seeking to end what it calls ‘one-sided flexibility’ - an imbalance in the power dynamic between an employer and employee where the employer has all the flexibility over shift patterns, for example, where the employee is left having to adapt at the last minute to accommodate shift cancellations and cover requests.
As part of its work on changing the way employment rights work, the Government is seeking further feedback through this consultation on measures introduced in the Employment Rights Act, giving employees the right to guaranteed hours, reasonable notice of shifts and payment for any that have been cancelled, cut short or moved at short notice.
Two-sided
The ACS’ submission to the consultation outlines the way employment contracts work in the convenience sector, and the experiences of both colleagues and retailers that demonstrate the existing two-sided flexibility when working in a local shop.
Policy recommendations in the submission aimed at providing a pragmatic framework for employment flexibility include:
- Setting the hours threshold for the right to guaranteed hours at eight hours a week, defined over a 12-week reference period
- Retailers shouldn’t lose the ability to flex their employment requirements on a seasonal basis, as these are important entry level jobs for people that value their flexibility
- Short notice and payment rights must be circumstance-based and not penalise retailers for unavoidable emergencies like supply disruption
- Changes must take into account how convenience retailers typically have very limited HR capacity as small businesses
Figures from the 2026 ACS Colleague Survey show that 97% of colleagues are employed on a permanent contract, with the use of zero hours contracts extremely rare, and that 81% of colleagues feel secure in their job.
ACS chief executive, Ed Woodall, said: “The Government must ensure its reforms do not unintentionally reduce employment opportunities or impose disproportionate burdens on small retailers.
“The flexibility offered by convenience stores is one of the sector’s greatest strengths, enabling colleagues to fit work around caring responsibilities and other commitments, while giving retailers the ability to respond to changing customer demand throughout the year.”
ACS’ full submission to the consultation is available here.
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