UKHospitality has urged the Government to avoid unnecessarily over-regulating flexible work as it consults on reforms relating to zero-hours and similar contracts.
Responding to the consultation, UKHospitality chair Kate Nicholls highlighted the importance of flexible roles within the hospitality sector.
“Jobs in hospitality are critical for supporting people who need flexible hours and jobs, from working parents to those with caring responsibilities,” she commented. “Retaining access to zero hours contracts was crucial and it was important the government recognised that in the Employment Rights Act.”
Nicholls said the sector supported efforts to tackle poor employment practices but warned that reforms must reflect the realities of hospitality operations and “get the detail right across the low hours threshold, reference period and new shifts provisions”. UKHospitality has called for the reference period for guaranteed hours to be increased from the Government’s preferred 12 weeks to 26 weeks, arguing this would better reflect regular working patterns and the seasonal nature of the sector.
“There is a danger that over-regulating flexible work increases work instability, rather than decreases it, which would undermine the government’s agenda to get people back into work,” concluded Nicholls. “That must be avoided at all costs.”
Originally published on Coinslot on June 8, 2026. Republished with permission.