‘Just-in-time’ staffing: Canada’s answer to zero-hours contracts?
11 December 2013
The labour minister for Canada’s Ontario province has promised to look into the practice of ‘just-in-time’ staffing, reminiscent of the UK’s much-maligned zero-hours contracts.
Wed, 11 Nov 2013The labour minister for Canada’s Ontario province has promised to look into the practice of ‘just-in-time’ staffing, reminiscent of the UK’s much-maligned zero-hours contracts.
The practice was highlighted in a story by national broadcaster CBC News, which reports the case of a worker at retailer H&M who was hired in a store in national capital Ottawa, only to be left on-call, not knowing until 7.30am whether she would be required to work.
CBC News was told by minister Tasir Naqvi: "This is the first time I've heard about that kind of employment condition. I will seek advice to what kind of practice this is and what kind of impact it has on employees.”
H&M tells CBC that it “aims to provide a fair and respectful workplace where employees can speak to management about their concerns” and notes that this form of flexible staffing is particularly necessary as Ottawa is a new market for the business.
Michelle Linthorne, the worker in question, has decided to leave the role, and comments: “I don’t know why they hire me when they can’t use me.”
So far, just under 80% of visitors to the CBC News website think this practice is “unfair”.
The practice was highlighted in a story by national broadcaster CBC News, which reports the case of a worker at retailer H&M who was hired in a store in national capital Ottawa, only to be left on-call, not knowing until 7.30am whether she would be required to work.
CBC News was told by minister Tasir Naqvi: "This is the first time I've heard about that kind of employment condition. I will seek advice to what kind of practice this is and what kind of impact it has on employees.”
H&M tells CBC that it “aims to provide a fair and respectful workplace where employees can speak to management about their concerns” and notes that this form of flexible staffing is particularly necessary as Ottawa is a new market for the business.
Michelle Linthorne, the worker in question, has decided to leave the role, and comments: “I don’t know why they hire me when they can’t use me.”
So far, just under 80% of visitors to the CBC News website think this practice is “unfair”.
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