ZERO hour contracts cause problems in the workplace, at home and in wider society, a new study has shown.

A Durham University graduate, who analysed the impact the contracts have on working people in Seaham, revealed her findings to a Northern TUC seminar.

Marjorie Libourel found the use of on demand employees disrupted family life, leads to higher divorces rates and problems for child care and holiday arrangements.

She said the lack of stability makes it difficult to budget, get credit and plans finances in the long term.

Ms Libourel said: “In such contracts, employers also tend to roll up holiday pay into hourly rates, which inflates basic pay rates but also discourages individuals from taking holiday.

“Several big companies practice this type of employment in a widespread manner.”

Ms Libourel found the use of zero hour contracts also causes problems in the workplace as they are in favour of employers and creates situations where staff who complain are accused of ‘having an attitude’ and either sacked or not given more work.

She said: “By keeping a small core of permanent workers surrounded by flexible workers with fewer rights, stress and rivalry are likely to emerge in the workplace due to possible different treatment.”

The seminar at County Hall in Durham heard from national union campaigners, North-East Labour MEP Jude Kirton-Darling and Easington MP Grahame Morris.

Mr Morris said: “What this research has done is put a human face on the impact of this huge problem which we face, the zero hours contract.

“Over 1.4m workers are on limited hours and they cause all sorts of problems, principally benefitting the employer.”

Neil Foster, policy and campaigns officer with the Northern TUC, which commissioned the research, said too many of the new jobs created in recent years have been low paid, insecure and not providing enough hours.

He said: “There are more and more examples of employers exploiting the high unemployment in regions like ours by adopting zero hour contracts within their workforce.

“Rather than be a temporary tool coming out of recession this form of work is becoming more and more common and it just isn’t sustainable for many people.

“The research launched at this event gave examples from County Durham of the devastating impact this type of work has on people’s lives and the toll it takes on their families too.

“This timely event will unite trade unions and politicians committed to tackling this abusive form of employment practice and who want to improve the quality of jobs created in the future.”