New figures have revealed that 1.8m people in the UK said they were employed on zero-hours contracts last summer, an increase of 400,000 compared to January 2014.

However, the Office for National Statistics says the figures are dependent on those asked knowing they are employed on a zero hours basis, and a greater public awareness of the term may be responsible for the rise.

They also point out that the summer figures will include seasonal work.

Additionally, the figures revealed that 697,000 people in the UK are currently employed on a zero-hours contract in their main job.

A zero-hours contract doesn’t guarantee a minimum number of hours for an employee and workers can be sent home if none are available. Details of working hours may be given with short notice, causing inconvenience for some. Other employees, however, are said to be content with the flexibility, although one third of workers would like more working hours, compared to one in ten of those with normal employment contracts.

One in five employers has at least one member of staff employed on a no guaranteed hours contract. Workers are more likely to be in full-time education than those with a normal employment contract and more likely to be under 25 or over 65.

Women are also more likely to be employed on a zero-hours contract – 55 per cent of workers are women, compared to 47 per cent of those with a normal employment contract.

Macks Solicitors in Darlington can provide legal advice and support in all aspects of complex employment law. Macks’ employment lawyers can help you with settlement agreements, unfair dismissal, workplace discrimination and other employment issues that may be affecting you.  You can contact our employment solicitors in Darlington on 01325 389800 to arrange an initial consultation, and meetings can also take place at our Middlesbrough office.