More than 60% of construction workers polled by constructaquote.com admitted that they didn’t have an employment contract and a further 20% said that they weren’t sure whether they did have a contract or not.
The study, which polled more than 1000* UK adults who work in the construction industry, also questioned the respondents about their annual leave entitlement and sick leave.
Four out of five (82%) revealed that they did not receive any sick pay from their employer and 86% don’t get any paid annual leave. When asked if they get paid if the weather stopped them from working, only 12% said that they did, with a further 4% stating that it would depend on the circumstances.
When asked if they considered themselves to be on a zero-hour contract, only 16% admitted that they did, with more than three quarters (76%) stating that they don’t have any kind of contract and that they just turn up for work. Furthermore, when asked if they would prefer to be on a zero-hours contract or have an employment contract, the majority (68%) would opt for an employment contract.
The new study comes after the Office for National Statistics revealed that the number of UK workers on zero-hours contracts has risen by 19%.
Lyndon Wood, CEO of constructaquote.com, said: “Our survey reveals that zero-hour contracts are customary in the construction industry. The majority of those we polled told us that they did not receive any sick pay or paid annual leave – which I think is a worrying statistic as many of our tradespeople are out in all weathers keeping the UK economy ticking over.
“I also think it is very telling that just under three quarters said that they would prefer to have a written employment contract and that 76% just turn up for work, with no contract in place. Working in the trades without any form of written contract has been the way the industry has worked for years, but as this study has shown – maybe it is time for change.”
*The study polled a total of 1,043 UK adults aged 18. Each participant works in the construction industry. Of those polled 34% were builders, 13% were plumbers and 9% were carpenters.
A new North East based construction business has been launched with ambitions to be delivering around £100 million worth of projects nationwide, within two years. Posted via Industry Today. Are you into it? Follow us on Twitter @IndustryToday
Continue Reading
ISG has been awarded three prestigious contracts within Glasgow city centre, with a combined value in excess of £11 million. Posted via Industry Today. Are you into it? Follow us on Twitter @IndustryToday
Continue Reading
Globus will be showcasing several high-performance gloves on Stand F13 at Screwfix Live, in Farnborough, from 25 to 27 September 2015. These gloves are well suited for builders, heating engineers, contractors, roofers and those involved in groundworks. One specific grip glove, the Showa 306, is both water repellent and breathable, making it ideal to be worn for manual handling in either wet or… Posted via Industry Today. Are you into it? Follow us on Twitter @IndustryToday
Continue Reading
UCATT general secretary Steve Murphy has resigned after being on sick leave for six months.
He leaves as the construction union has laid off up to 16 staff amid deepening financial turmoil and falling membership.
Murphy’s decision to quit will now trigger a new leadership race, which is likely start before the end of the year.
Brian Rye, UCATT’s national secretary, who has been covering Murphy’s duties over the last six months, said: “We wish Steve and his family all the best for the future.”
Sovereign Group Limited one of the UKs largest and longest established window and door manufacturer and installer, has recently increased its impressive management and director portfolio with three new key appointments. Posted via Industry Today. Are you into it? Follow us on Twitter @IndustryToday
Continue Reading
Affordable housing and maintenance contractor Wates Living Space has formed a new national business structure to double turnover in the next four years.
The business has now been split into two separate divisions under the Living Space brand; a Maintenance division and a Homes division.
Managing Director of Wates Living Space, Andy Hobart, who joined the firm from Balfour Beatty Workplace at the end of 2012, aims to grow both divisions to create a sustainable £500m maintenance division and a £250m homes division.
He said: “Today’s announcement brings us even closer becoming the UK’s leading affordable housing and maintenance contractor.
“The clear separation of our maintenance and homes divisions under the Wates Living Space brand gives us a strong foundation on which to seize emerging business opportunities and to make our ambitious growth goals a reality.”
Each division is supported by a dedicated management team focused on the growth opportunities within each sector.
The Homes division will be led by Managing Director, Jo Jamieson who will be accountable for the division’s new build and partnership housing activities across all regions and will report to Hobart.
She takes up this new role following her previous appointment as regional managing director of Wates Living Space’s new build activities in the East.
Hobart will continue to oversee the maintenance division, supported by regional managing directors, David Morgan in the South and Steve Jackson in the Midlands and North.
The two divisions will offer housing association and local authority clients a full range of maintenance, contracting and development services.
Wates Living Space’ reported a turnover of £391m in 2014 and has been further supported by a number of strategic acquisitions in recent years.
This includes the integration of Linbrook Services into South Maintenance in 2011 and the more recent acquisition of G Purchase in 2014, expanding Wates Living Space’s national offer to customers and growing its responsive maintenance capability in the Midlands and North.
This significant growth has also enabled the business to expand its client offer.
The creation of development models resulted in the delivery of mixed-tenure schemes at Erith Park in Bexley and Drakes Place in Aylesbury.
Landmark Information Group, the UK’s leading supplier of digital mapping, property and environmental risk information, will be delivering insight to town planners, architects and developers on the key constraints that challenge the development of ‘connected buildings and cities’ and how quality data can resolve them. Posted via Industry Today. Are you into it? Follow us on Twitter @IndustryToday
Continue Reading
Acorn Bristol, part of the award-winning Acorn Property Group, is on the expansion trail with a number of key appointments. Posted via Industry Today. Are you into it? Follow us on Twitter @IndustryToday
Continue Reading
