Zero hours contract template
A zero hours contract is the written statement of terms for a worker who has no guaranteed hours: the employer is not obliged to offer work, and the worker is not obliged to accept it. It is used for bank, casual and seasonal staff, and must still give the worker the written particulars every worker is entitled to by their first day, including pay, place of work, holiday and notice. Because rates often differ by site, it usually lists each place of work with its hourly rate.
Adapted from Acas (22 May 2026). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
What changes each time
12 values. Everything else is your wording, kept exactly.
The worker and employer
- Worker's name
- Employer
- Start date
- Job title
Work, places and rates
- Places of work and hourly rates
- Normal place of work
- Shift hours
- Pay frequency
Leave and notice
- Holiday entitlement
- Probation
- Notice the worker gives
- Notice the employer gives
The rules it usually needs
Written in plain English when the template is set up.
- Once for each item
“A line for each place of work, with its hourly rate.”
The rates email listed three sites, so the statement lists three, each with its own rate.
- The AI decides from the paperwork
“Include the working abroad section only when the worker may be required to work outside the UK.”
The sign-up form said the worker would not work outside the UK, so it was left out, with that reason shown.
- One of several wordings
“Probation: either none, or a probation period with its length and terms.”
The rates email said there is no probation for bank staff, so the no-probation wording was used.
- One of several wordings
“Notice: one notice period, or different notice during and after probation.”
A single notice period of one week, from the rates email.
One worked example, start to finish
The zero hours contract in DocuWeave, from upload to approval.
1The document uploaded
The Acas written statement template for workers, a Word file, uploaded as it is.
- 2
The template it became
It found 27 sections and 62 values, and asked 6 questions. The no-obligation wording and a line per site were added before publishing.
3The paperwork dropped in
The casual bank sign-up form, the agreed rates email and an availability note.
4What was found, with sources
19 values filled from three files, including all three sites and rates from one email.
5What it asked
6 things for a person, such as the statement date where two files gave different dates.
6The approved output
Approved, with Word and PDF downloads of exactly what was approved: 4 pages.
A free zero hours contract to download
- Zero hours contract, filled with fictional details (Word)
- Zero hours contract, filled with fictional details (PDF)
Use it as it is, or upload it to DocuWeave and make it a template.
DocuWeave is not a law firm. A general template for common situations in England and Wales. It is not tailored to you and we do not update it when the law changes, so check it suits your situation before you use it. Terms.
Adapted from Acas (22 May 2026). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Questions people ask
What is a zero hours contract?
A contract where the employer does not guarantee any hours and the individual does not have to accept work offered. People on zero hours contracts are usually workers, though some may be employees, and they are entitled to the national minimum wage and paid holiday.
Do zero hours workers get holiday?
Yes. Holiday builds up with the hours worked. For irregular-hours workers it can be calculated as 12.07% of hours worked in a pay period, which is the figure used in this example.
Can I stop a zero hours worker from working for someone else?
No. Exclusivity clauses in zero hours contracts are unenforceable, so the worker is free to take work elsewhere.
Does a zero hours worker need a written statement?
Yes. Workers, not only employees, are entitled to a written statement of their main terms on or before their first day. This template is based on the Acas statement for workers.
Are the rules for zero hours contracts changing?
The Employment Rights Act 2025 introduces rights to guaranteed hours and reasonable notice of shifts, with the detail set by regulations. Check the GOV.UK timeline for when those parts come into force.
Use this template
It opens in DocuWeave as a template you can check, change and publish. Nothing is used until you do.