BMS501: Analyzing the Negative Impact of Zero-Hour Contracts Debate

This report presents a debate on the negative consequences of zero-hour contracts on both employees and businesses, including a personal reflection on the skills developed during the process. The debate centered on whether the flexibility offered by these contracts outweighs the potential for exploitation and instability for workers. The winning team argued that zero-hour contracts lead to decreased employee motivation, poor work-life balance, and negative impacts on mental and physical health, ultimately affecting business performance. The opposing team focused on the benefits of flexibility for businesses and the potential for income instability if such contracts were eliminated. The reflection portion details the development of research, communication, problem-solving, and teamwork skills, emphasizing the importance of effective communication and conflict resolution within a group setting. The report concludes that the skills gained through this debate will be valuable in future academic and professional endeavors.

Topical Debate and
Reflection

Table of Contents
Introduction .....................................................................................................................................3
Individual Debate report.........................................................................................................3
Reflection Report....................................................................................................................5
References ......................................................................................................................................8

Introduction
Employees are considered to be the main resource of the organisation, they lead business
towards continuous growth and success so it becomes essential for the companies to satisfy the
personal needs of their employees. But use of zero hour contract leads to creating negative
impact on the functioning and consequences for both employers and employees of the
organisation. The zero hour contract is the type of contract implemented where the employees
are not provided with the regular work by the employer also the employer is not restricted to
provide any minimum number of work hours to the employees, this lead to creating negative
impact on the employees automatically influencing overall functioning of the company (Burnet
and Lampert, 2019). This report is divided into two parts, the first part is the individual debate of
on the negative impact of working under zero hour contract and the other part is the personal
reflection of the learning outcomes.
Individual Debate report
The Debate topic is
“The use of zero-hour contracts has negative consequences to both employees
and the business”
The above mentioned was the topic for the debate, the debate was among the two groups
where one group has to talk in favour of the debate and the other group has to talk against the
topic. The topic highlights that employees working under the zero hour contract has to face
number of consequences which leads to creating dissatisfaction among them, there is effective
negative impact of working under the zero-hours contract was the main focus of both the team.
One group was in favour of this topic which has highlighted that there is negative impact of the
working under the zero hour contract whereas there group which was against the topic has
highlighted that there are some positive impact of working under the zero hour contract. In this
case the individual contribution was in favour of the topic which was also the member of the
winning team also. The winning team has highlighted that the working under the zero hour
contract leads to directly influencing the performance of the company (Denzin and Giardina,
2019). As an individual contribution in the debate certain points were highlighted which shows
that there is negative impact of the working under zero hour contract, it directly creates negative
consequences to both employees and business effectively. The certain points that were

highlighted by the winning point is that creating flexible working hours in the business
organisation allows the employees to be satisfied and utilise their full potential effectively. It also
helps in offering the rights to the employees to accept or reject a particular job where the flexible
working hour is not given to the employees also allow the employees to chosen for whom they
want to work for effectively. Whereas it is also highlighted that having zero hour contract leads
to directly influencing employees of the company as the employees working on the Zero hours
contracts are basically does not have any kind of paid sick leave and are forced to work even
when they are not willing to do, sometimes forced to work even if they are ill in order to keep
their job . These kind of environment leads influencing their motivational level and also having
direct impact on their health and mental health. It is argued that continue having the zero hour
contract will lead the companies gradually losing their employees. In addition to this it was also
argued from the winning team that having zero hour contract leads to lack of work life balance
for the employees as there are unaware of the fact that when their work might get over. Some of
the issues of zero hour contract such as working day or night, no particular time for sleep,
imbalance in the personal life are pointed out by the winning team but the financial instability
leads employees to stay in these kind of jobs. Other points that were argued in favour of the topic
includes that the other impacts of the zero hour contract is that it this has lead the employees to
face certain family issues as they has to cancel their family commitments due to some urgent
work that came (Edelman, 2018). The winning team had a strong point that zero hour contract
has directly influenced the mental health of the employees and also created dissatisfaction among
them. It has also lead to exploiting the workers and forcing them to leave the organisation.
Other side of the argument
The other team which was against the topic which was use of zero hour contracts has
negative consequences to both employees and the business. This team has lost the debate but
some of the point highlighted by this team includes that not having the zero hour contract in the
organisation will allow the employees to work as per their own wish which will lead to creating
instability of the income in the company, it will also lead to creating situation where their will be
impossible to qualify for the mortgage. They have also argued that if the employees are not
working as per the requirement that it will lead to influencing performance of the company as the
targets will not be attained on time influencing overall profitability and productivity of the
business. In addition to this the other side of the argument also includes that if there is no hour

contract in the business organisation the goals and objectives of the company will not be
achieved which will lead to company facing loss of revenues, no pension to the employees. It is
also mentioned that zero hour contract is essential for the company in order to enhance their
performance and achieve their desired goals and objectives (Richards, 2019). The group which
has argued this has lost the debate as it is analysed that having zero hour contract lead to directly
influencing the performance of the employees which automatically leads to influencing the
profitability of the company.
Reflection Report
In the present report the overall individual contribution was as per the requirement of debate. I
was able to used my written and verbal communication skills as per the needs of debate. I
focussed on dealing with various barriers that arise in the course of present debate.
While working on the debate I had to focus on understanding some of the crucial requirements
that can help me in having a strong base if arguments. For this purpose I worked on my
researching skills where I evaluated various online available articles, journal sources for
collecting the relevant information to develop a strong argument base. I also use by verbal
communication skills for the purpose of presenting my view points as representation of my
group. In this course I understood the relevance of having a effective verbal communication skill.
Having clarity in the way of speaking is one of the most important aspects of offering the view
points for having a positive impact on the listeners. Further I also analysed a fact that non verbal
communication also accompanied the fact that I am able to clearly present my views and
thoughts with respect to or laid topic of debate. It include my gestures, eye contact, facial
expression, postures. The overall importance of effective communication is combined with the
verbal as well as non verbal communication that helps in development of necessary
understanding between the speaker and listener at a point of time.
Apart from this the present debate is very helpful in the course of using my problem solving
skills. In the initial stages I was working on the process of collecting of necessary information
that can help me in having a relevant information and knowledge with respect to the topic on
which I had to present my view points.
I also used my various computer operating systems for he purpose of accessing of software
programmes and managing different functions of computer. The debate took place initially on
virtual mediums.

The debate assisted me in the course of enhancing my ICT skills as I had to work on ceratiom
and engagement of digital information for specific purposes. In this course I was working ona
analysing the information by application of database software. I used various organisation tools
to develop the relevant information base as per requirements of the debate. I develop some
confidence to use core computer programs for the purpose of producing the digital information in
form of power points presentation and word documents.
I managed to develop skills of using appropriate software to resolve problems or communication
of idea with more clarity. I focussed on using of communication technologies for presentation of
my group work my existing ICT skill leads to bringing of a significant change to the project. The
skills that I managed to create through this project was additional to technical skills that is
associated with application of analytical and creativity to apply it to a activity. Computing skills
are very important for a individual academic and professional development, it is computing
science that is related with learning of practical skills and gaining of theoretical understanding of
web development and other software skills.
This activity was a group task where I had to work in a group. For this purpose I jade to develop
appropriate coordination amongst all the team members. I focussed on development of my
existing team working skills by understanding the importance of collaboration amongst various
team members to deal with any type of internal conflicts. There were instances where we faced
some of mis understanding or differences in opinion while working together for a specific topic.
But then in such instances I work towards dealing with the conflicts by application of various
problem solving skills. There were laying down of formal and informal communication channels
amongst the group members to establish the reporting relationships. It helped in the course of
avoiding duplication of activities and tasks so that there is proper effectiveness that is build up in
the course of team functioning. There was optimum utilisation of available resources also by
application of appropriate structure in the team working during this project work. Our team
leader provided us adequate opportunities to present our view points with respect to the
individual discussions as there was use of participative leadership style which help and provided
a chance to every team member. There was development of higher self confidence during this
process where more creativity and innovative was applied by each individual members towards
working on the debate. Overall skill development during this debate is a very innovative
experience that will be cherished all through my academic career. There is development of

verbal and written communication skill set which helped me in the process of fulfilling future
course of requirements in the present report. The conflict resolution skills that have been
developed in the course of work is going to lead towards dealing with future conflicting situation
in my professional career and corporate environment.
In the present report this skill helped me in efficiently using of elementary functions of
communication and information technologies. It lead to retrieving, storage, presentation and the
communication of information. There was participation in the collaborative networks by use of
internet. During the preparation of debate there were some of the situations where different
individuals were having differences in their way of working and the process of collecting require
information. So, I worked on analysing and dealing with differences by understanding & valuing
of the thought process of each individual. This activity helped in establishment of proper
coordination amongst the teammates throughput the research work.
The present debate helped me in course of development of my experiences and exploration of
information. It is going to lead towards having purposeful subject related contexts. It also
assisted me in the process of developing a data base of suitable information that lead to creation
of ICT capabilities in the course of present debate.

References
Books and Journals
Burnett, B. and Lampert, J., 2019. The Australian national exceptional teaching for
disadvantaged schools programme: A reflection on its first 8 years. Journal of Education
for Teaching, 45(1), pp.31-46.
Denzin, N.K. and Giardina, M.D. eds., 2019. Qualitative inquiry at a crossroads: Political,
performative, and methodological reflections. Routledge.
Edelman, N., 2018. Towards a critical epidemiology approach for applied sexual health
research. Journal of health psychology, 23(2), pp.161-174.
Guru, G. and Sarukkai, S., 2018. The cracked mirror: An Indian debate on experience and
theory. Oxford University Press.
Larsen, T.P. and Mailand, M., 2018. Lifting wages and conditions of atypical employees in
Denmark—the role of social partners and sectoral social dialogue. Industrial Relations
Journal, 49(2), pp.88-108.
Richards, S., 2019. The Prime Ministers: Reflections on Leadership from Wilson to Johnson.
Atlantic Books.
Rule, R. and Twinley, R., 2021. Developing an occupational perspective of women involved in
sex work: A discussion paper. Journal of Occupational Science, 28(1), pp.133-143.
Simms, M., 2019. What Do We Know and what Should We Do about the Future of Work?.
Sage.