Allied Healthcare switches off zero hours, switches on recruitment
14 November 2013
Just over 15,000 care workers currently employed by Allied Healthcare on zero-hours contracts are to be offered the opportunity of a contracted minimum of 18 hours a week, as the firm announces “thousands” of vacancies for next year.
Thu, 14 Oct 2013Just over 15,000 care workers currently employed by Allied Healthcare on zero-hours contracts are to be offered the opportunity of a contracted minimum of 18 hours a week, as the firm announces “thousands” of vacancies for next year.
Starting in January next year the entire care staff of the health and care provider will be given this option, a company spokesperson tells recruiter.co.uk that. All workers will have received that offer, which is dependent on staff passing probation and other qualifying factors, by April 2014.
The company told Channel 4 News in October that it was “looking at it [zero-hours contract use] very closely” and had recognised that change may be needed.
Controversy over zero-hours contracts has subsided since it reached fever pitch in the summer. Prominent HR consultant Norman Pickavance has been commissioned by the Labour Party to lead an independent review into the matter.
The spokeperson for Allied Healthcare says the firm cannot put exact numbers on recruitment plans for next year as this is dependent on demand and client wins, but indicates it will be “way above 2,500” care staff of all levels and in all regions of the UK.
In an announcement on the company's website, chief executive officer Darryn Gibson says the zero-hours reform is “the first in a range of changes that we propose to make to ensure that our care workers feel valued in their roles”. The company spokesperson said it could not elaborate on this.
Starting in January next year the entire care staff of the health and care provider will be given this option, a company spokesperson tells recruiter.co.uk that. All workers will have received that offer, which is dependent on staff passing probation and other qualifying factors, by April 2014.
The company told Channel 4 News in October that it was “looking at it [zero-hours contract use] very closely” and had recognised that change may be needed.
Controversy over zero-hours contracts has subsided since it reached fever pitch in the summer. Prominent HR consultant Norman Pickavance has been commissioned by the Labour Party to lead an independent review into the matter.
The spokeperson for Allied Healthcare says the firm cannot put exact numbers on recruitment plans for next year as this is dependent on demand and client wins, but indicates it will be “way above 2,500” care staff of all levels and in all regions of the UK.
In an announcement on the company's website, chief executive officer Darryn Gibson says the zero-hours reform is “the first in a range of changes that we propose to make to ensure that our care workers feel valued in their roles”. The company spokesperson said it could not elaborate on this.
- Trade union GMB claims that the move is an attempt by Allied's parent company Acromas to “get good PR” ahead of a rumoured float of sister brand Saga. GMB says the float would involve Allied being merged into Saga. Acromas tells recruiter.co.uk it does not comment on market rumours.
