Acas has published its response to the Government's consultation on banning exclusivity clauses in zero hours contracts. Evidence from Acas' analysis of calls to its helpline (on average there were 70 calls a week about zero hours contracts) discovered that some employers could find ways to circumvent the ban on zero hours exclusivity clauses announced by the BIS earlier this year. For example, an employer could reduce or stop offers of work to those who take an additional job. Workers might be discouraged from taking on an additional job because they are concerned that their work opportunities will be reduced if they do. However, Acas believe that the Government proposals for regulations that require employers to pay compensation to these victims could be effective in protecting these workers. Acas' research also revealed that many workers on a zero hours contract feel excluded from the sense of security, fairness and trust that's associated with contracts of employment with guaranteed hours.

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