Debate and Reflection: Zero-Hour Contracts' Negative Impact

This essay presents a debate on the negative consequences of zero-hour contracts for both employees and businesses, arguing that such contracts lead to decreased employee motivation, financial instability, and an inability to plan their lives, which in turn harms business productivity and monitoring capabilities. The essay further includes a personal reflection using Gibb's Model, detailing the development of transferable skills such as communication, critical thinking, and teamwork through participation in the debate, highlighting the importance of seizing opportunities for skill enhancement and continuous improvement. Desklib provides access to this essay and many other resources to support students.

Debate and Reflection

Table of Contents
Task-1 Debate..................................................................................................................................3
Task 2 Reflection.............................................................................................................................5
Gibb's Model of Reflection....................................................................................................5
REFERNCES:..................................................................................................................................9
Books and Journals:................................................................................................................9

Task-1 Debate
“The use of zero-hour contracts has negative consequences to both employees and
the business”
Zero-hour contracts are the contracts that do not have any fixed time of job. It is an
employment contract under which the employee is not provided any minimum working hours. It
is seen that the employee is paid according to the work done by him. It is primary used in United
Kingdoms. Yes, it is rightly said that Zero-hour contract has a negative impact on the employees
as well as the business (Heyes and et.al., 2018). It is noticed that it as a formal job has defined
number of working hours. All the employees know about the time duration in which they have to
complete the work that is being assigned to them. The work duration motivates them, to
complete the assigned work in time. It is observed that an organisation should always set the
total working hours. So that there is time management. The employees also have their own life.
They have their personal work for which they need to know the office hours. It is essential for
the employers and higher authority to tell them about the total time in which the have to work.
The employees of the organisation has to face various issues due to the provision of zero
hour contract. As they are deprived of various benefits such as extra pay on over time. And a
major issue that is associated here is related to leavers. The employees of the organisation so not
get any benefit due to this zero-hour contracts. As, the employers are not obliged to pay them
any leave or workplace benefits. The major disadvantages are faced by the employees. All the
employees do the job for the purpose of income. As they want to earn and feed their families.
But in regard to zero-hour contracts there are no fixed working hours and because of which no
pay is fixed (Banaji and Mejias, 2017). The payment given to employees vary according to the
situation and work that is available in the organisation. This directly impacts the employee. They
do not like to work at such a place where there is no fixed pay given to them. It is also seen that
thy are not motivated as they do not know about the duration of time they have to work. How can
a person work without knowing the hours. It causes problem for them and that has impact on the
employee's productivity. It is seen that all the employees are not motivated to work when they do
not have pressure and assigned working hours. The employees are unable to give time to family
and friends. The social life of the person comes in danger while doing jobs in which there are no
working hours fixed. The employee's keep on waiting for the call and work to be assigned. There
life becomes restricted and problematic (Diprose, 2017). Sometimes, the issue is related to

payment of there monthly expenditure. As the work that is assigned varies and for this reason the
expenditure of the employees is also in danger. A person that works under zero-hour contracts
face these challenges and are unable to live a free life. There are number of restrictions that they
face. As well as the are unable to get equal amount of money. This is a major drawback of
working on zero-hour contracts (Ravalier and et.al., 2017). This shows that are unable to plan
their day. And planning is one of the vital function that helps a man to be successful. But it is not
possible in the given case. Along with that the problem of low income causes pressure over
them. Also, it is seen that the employees can face issue of last moment work. They can receive
call at any time and have to do shift. Also, sometimes there shift is being cancelled and that also
create problem. All this cause issue for the employees. From the discussion it is clear that there
so many negative impact on employee's. Normally people that their employees as asset but after
entering in these type of contracts the value of employee decrease.
So, if employees have such negative consequences than it is clear that the organisation
will also face problems. How can a business work effectively if the employee's are not able to
work at their level best. The business organisation is unable to monitor the performance of
employees (Aroles, Mitev and de Vaujany, 2019). They are unable to know the reason of profit
and loss. All this cause various problems for the organisation. As they are unable to understand
the situations of the organisation. Along with that they do not have control over the workers and
their working. Sometimes, the employees take advantage of the situation and do not complete the
work as no one can monitor their work. They are unable to be free as they have to assign work to
employees. The lack of coordination, planning is the reason that the organisation may fail. As the
employee are not at all dedicated for work the organisation is unable to attain success. There
performance I uncertain and this may cause loss to the organisation. As the income are also not
fixed this is also a reason for loss for the business. The lack of cooperation and coordination will
also lead to problems in the businesses. It is observed that a business and all the employees are
unable work as normal (Baker and Kelan, 2018). It is seen that lack of fixed working hours
increases the complexity of business and at the same time there is no way to review and monitor
the performance of the employees. The demotivated employees also become part of conflict. So,
there are numerous problems that the organisation has to face. It is clear that the use of zero-hour
contracts has negative consequences to both employees and the business. There are so many

issues that employees and business face due to this contract. It is clear that these contract must be
avoided by the business so that they can work effectively.
Task 2 Reflection
Transferable skills are the skills that are required in variety of reasons. These are qualities
that individual possess as that help them to do the desired work on time and with full
effectiveness. These skills are developed while doing to course and preparing. Gibb's Model is
used to show development of these skills.
Gibb's Model of Reflection
There are various stages in the reflection that help to analyse what happened and to focus
on areas of development. Description related to the same is done below:
Step 1: Description
There was a debate competition. I was keen to participate in such events. So, I wish to
give my arguments and become part of the debate. There is need of certain skills to perform
effectively in the debate. I developed number of keep skills that helped me to speak effectively.
Step 2: Feelings
I was really worried in the starting. There were so many questions that were coming in
my mind. I was not feeling confident as there is need of skills that will help me to achieve
success (Dressler and et.al., 2018). But while preparation for debate I developed various skills
such as communication, critical thinking, teamwork, conflict solving skills and presentation
skills to perform effectively in the debate. It is important to develop these skills as they help in
attaining success.
Step 3: Evaluation
As stated above that I was scared in the starting but by practising I was able to develop
the skills. It was a nice experience as I have never participated in debate before wards. But I
understood that I have sufficient amount of confidence and the skills that helped me to give
arguments. This debate enhanced by skills as I read thoroughly about zero-hour contract. It is
seen that I played strong and that is the reason I am happy and satisfied with my performance. A
person that is able clearly present the views is able to achieve success. It is evaluated that
practice and hard work are key to success. I was able to speak effectively there due to supports of
my teachers and friends.

Step 4: Analysis
I have analysed that a person should use the skills and capabilities as they help him to
achieve success. The real reason of my good performance are my teachers and friends. They
motivated me and supported me to speak effectively. They helped me to work on the skills that
are required to perform in an effective manner. There is need of critical evaluation to give
arguments against the defender (Zadorozhna, Datskiv and Levchyk, 2018). Debate is not easy to
undertakes. A person needs to have full knowledge as well as ready and active to support the
arguments. It was really an excellent opportunity for me where I was able to present my skills
and know about my capabilities. These skills and knowledge will be with me always and also
will help me in future. There is need of such skills and motivation to perform in an effective
manner.
Step 5: Conclusion
It is concluded that whenever there is opportunity a person should grab it and take actions
that will help to perform effectively. It is analysed that I have good communication skills but was
lacking confidence and that is the reason I was hesitated to perform and participate. But by
working on my skills and continuously reading about the topic, I was able to enhance my skills
and confidence level. It is essential to use the capabilities. I was nervous at certain moments so
for the next time I will take care of this point. There was some lacking in my practice and that
could be the reason of being nervous. All the skills will help me in future as well. I will
continues to work on these skills and follow the actions that are formulated.
Step 6: Action Plan
It shows the actions that will help in developing skills. An action plan is always important
to enhance and develop skills. The skills that are required and help in attaining success are
discussed below:
Skills Importance Actions

Communication Skills To show the arguments and
interact in an effective manner
there is requirement of good
communication skills (Bass,
Fenwick, and Sidebotham,
2017).
 To enhance
communication skills I
took classes and
sessions.
 I also practised the
same on regular basis
Critical Thinking skills To give arguments and strong
points in debate there is need
of critical thinking skills.
 I do meditation to
enhance my critical
thinking skills.
 By reading and
enhancing knowledge
about the topic an
individual is able to
enhance the skill.
Team work skills There is need of coordination
in debate as well. The task is
not just to present your views,
but to understand the
opponent. It is important to
coordinate and speak when the
other person has finished.
 By working in so many
teams I was able to
develop team working
skills.
Conflict solving skills There are chances of conflicts
in debate (Reljić, Pajnkihar
and Fekonja, 2019). It is vital
for a person to has ability to
solve conflict to perform
effectively.
 By meditation and
yoga, I am able to work
on my patience level
and that helps in
conflict resolving.
 At the same time by
working in team and
being part of conflict, I
learnt to solve the

conflicts.
Presentation skills There is requirement to present
the thoughts effectively.
Merely having knowledge is
not sufficient for a person to
participate in debate (Perera,
and et.al., 2017). It is
important to clearly present the
thoughts that are based on
logics.
 I worked so much on
my presentation skills
my taking online
classes for the same.
 I also practiced in front
of mirror and that also
helped me to enhance
my presentation skills.
I have understood that there is requirement of these skills to perform effectively in
debate. I am thankful that I got the opportunity to participate and work on my skills. The action
plan is one of the effective tool that helps in achieving success and developing the skills that
need development.

REFERNCES:
Books and Journals:
Aroles, J., Mitev, N. and de Vaujany, F.X., 2019. Mapping themes in the study of new work
practices. New Technology, Work and Employment, 34(3), pp.285-299.
Baker, D.T. and Kelan, E.K., 2018. HRM practices to diversity management: individualization,
precariousness and precarity. In Human resource management (pp. 117-134).
Routledge.
Banaji, S. and Mejias, S., 2017. Story of a vote unforetold: young people, youth activism and the
UK general election. POLIS: journalism and society at the LSE.
Bass, J., Fenwick, J. and Sidebotham, M., 2017. Development of a model of holistic reflection to
facilitate transformative learning in student midwives. Women and Birth, 30(3), pp.227-
235.
Diprose, G., 2017. Radical equality, care and labour in a community economy. Gender, Place &
Culture, 24(6), pp.834-850.
Dressler and et.al., 2018. The cross-cultural reflective model for post-sojourn
debriefing. Reflective Practice, 19(4), pp.490-504.
Heyes and et.al., 2018. Living with uncertain work. Industrial Relations Journal, 49(5-6),
pp.420-437.
Perera, and et.al., 2017. Wavelength and refractive index dependence of the geometrical
enhancement in surface‐enhanced Raman scattering. Journal of Raman
Spectroscopy, 48(9), pp.1182-1189.
Ravalier and et.al.,2017. The influence of zero-hours contracts on care worker well-
being. Occupational Medicine, 67(5), pp.344-349.
Reljić, N.M., Pajnkihar, M. and Fekonja, Z., 2019. Self-reflection during first clinical practice:
The experiences of nursing students. Nurse education today, 72, pp.61-66.
Zadorozhna, I., Datskiv, O. and Levchyk, N., 2018. Development of pre-service foreign
languages teachers’ emotional intelligence by means of reflection.