Bectu calls for stronger worker protections in reforms to zero hours and similar contracts 

Bectu has submitted its response to the Government’s consultation on ending one-sided flexibility, backing reforms that could give thousands of creative workers greater security over their hours, income and working lives.

The consultation will determine how key provisions in the Employment Rights Act 2025 are implemented, including new rights to guaranteed hours, reasonable notice of shifts and compensation for shifts cancelled at short notice. You can read Bectu’s submission here.

For many workers in the creative industries, the most significant changes could come from the proposed new notice and cancellation protections. Bectu’s response argues that workers should receive greater certainty about when they are expected to work and guaranteed compensation when work is cancelled at the last minute.

The importance of these reforms has been thrown into sharp focus by the postponement of Burlesque the Musical. Many workers were left facing uncertainty after reserving time for the production, turning down alternative work and making personal arrangements on the expectation that the engagement would proceed. For workers on insecure contracts, the financial impact of late cancellations can be significant, particularly where there is little opportunity to secure replacement work at short notice.

Bectu’s response argues that stronger notice and cancellation rights could help prevent workers from bearing the full cost of these situations in future.

We have called for workers to receive:

• at least three weeks’ notice of their schedules

• a seven-day short-notice cancellation period

• 100% pay compensated where shifts are cancelled with less than 48 hours’ notice

Together, these measures would not only provide workers with greater financial protection when plans change, but also encourage better workforce planning and reduce the use of speculative bookings that leave workers carrying the financial risk when productions do not go ahead.

Importantly, the new legislation does not force workers onto guaranteed-hours contracts. Workers who value the flexibility of a zero-hours arrangement will be able to decline a guaranteed-hours offer and remain on their existing terms. The legislation also allows alternative arrangements to be agreed through collective bargaining, creating a route for unions and employers to agree models that reflect the realities of different parts of the creative industries while maintaining worker protections.

Philippa Childs, Head of Bectu, said:

“For too long, creative workers have carried the risks of insecure work through unpredictable schedules, late cancellations and uncertainty over their income.

“These reforms have the potential to deliver a meaningful improvement in security while preserving the flexibility that many workers value. Crucially, workers will still be able to choose whether to accept a guaranteed-hours contract, and collective agreements can provide tailored arrangements where that best reflects the needs of a workforce.

“The biggest change for many workers could come from stronger rights around notice and cancellations. Nobody should be left out of pocket because work is cancelled at the last minute or because employers fail to plan effectively. The Government now has an opportunity to ensure that flexibility works for workers as well as employers.”

Bectu’s response is informed by a survey of 369 Bectu members on zero-hours contracts across theatre, live events, cinema and other parts of the creative industries. Bectu’s evidence found widespread concern about short-notice scheduling and cancellations, with many workers reporting that they often receive little notice of shifts and rarely receive compensation when work is cancelled.

You can find a summary of the research here.