Contracts of Employment (AQA GCSE Business)
Revision Note
Written by: Lisa Eades
Reviewed by: Steve Vorster
Full-time Contracts
Full-time employment is when an employee works the total number of hours considered by the company as full-time in a week
Full time employees work more hours in a company than part-time employees
In the UK labour full-time employees are classified as those that work 35 hours a week or more
Part-time Contracts
Someone who works part-time may only work two or three days a week
Part-time employment may be more flexible and can be adjusted subject to employee availability and employer requirements
Part-time employees at the US company Costco work between 24 and 40 hours per week
Job sharing is the process of breaking up a role into two part-time contracts (in rare cases, the job share may occur between more than two workers)
The choice between full-time and part-time contracts depends on the specific needs of both employers and employees
Employers often value the commitment of full-time staff but also the flexibility of part-time workers
Employees may prioritise a stable income or a good work-life balance
Benefits of Full-time and Part-time Employment Contracts
Contract | Benefits for Employers | Benefits for Employees |
---|---|---|
Full-time |
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Part-time |
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Casual Contracts
An employee engaged on a casual contract works whenever the business needs them
This may be seasonal (summer or winter) or for a determined length of time
E.g. A ski instructor working for two months during a ski season at a resort in the French Alps
A zero hours contract is where an employee agrees to be available for work as and when required, with no particular number of hours or times of work specified
In the UK, zero-hour contracts are controversial
Trade unions and the media have accused businesses, such as Sports Direct, of using them to exploit workers
In 2015, UK employers were banned from offering zero-hour contracts that prevented employees from working for another employer at the same time
Examiner Tips and Tricks
You do not need to demonstrate detailed legal knowledge of the different types of employment contract. It is more important that you weigh up the benefits and drawbacks of employment contracts for both employers and employees.
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