Jana's Story: Fighting for Consistent Hours
A Cork worker on a zero hours contract gets banded hours after two years of reliable service
Jana had been working for a retail company in Cork for two years, and she'd become the reliable backbone of their team. Every single week, without fail, she worked 25 hours. Her manager knew he could count on her. Her colleagues knew her shifts by heart. She turned up, did the work, and proved her worth time and again. But here's the catch: she was officially on a zero hours contract, which meant technically the company didn't owe her any guaranteed work at all.
After two years of this pattern, Jana decided she needed some security. She couldn't plan her life properly without knowing her income would be stable. She made a reasonable request: could the company put her 25 hours down in writing as guaranteed work? In other words, could she move to banded hours — a contract that acknowledges the hours she was already actually working? The company said no. There was no good reason given. They simply refused.
Frustrated but determined, Jana filed a complaint with the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC). She didn't want to make trouble — she just wanted what she'd already been earning in black and white. The WRC heard her case and agreed with her. The decision came back in her favour: the company was ordered to provide Jana with banded hours of 25 hours per week. What she'd been doing all along was finally officially recognised.
What the Law Says
In Ireland, if you work regular hours on a zero hours contract, you have the right to request banded hours after a certain period. This means your normal working pattern can be put into a written agreement, giving you more security. Your employer cannot refuse this request unfairly. The WRC can hear complaints if they do refuse, and can order the banded hours to be put in place. This protects workers from the uncertainty of pure zero hours contracts while acknowledging the reality of how they actually work.
⚠ Time Limits Matter
If you're in a similar situation, it's important to act within the correct timeframe. Complaints to the WRC generally must be brought within three years of the breach, but don't wait — the sooner you raise the issue formally, the sooner you can resolve it. Keep records of your actual hours worked over time, as this evidence is crucial to your case.