Lord Wolfson says reforms will reduce flexibility for employers and discourage them from offering staff extra shifts
27 May 2026
Next’s chief executive, Lord Wolfson, has warned that the Employment Rights Act’s proposed measures to strengthen guaranteed hours and limit zero-hours contracts could reduce flexibility for employers.
Speaking to the BBC, Wolfson said proposals requiring businesses to offer guaranteed-hours contracts to workers could limit retailers’ ability to offer staff additional hours during busy periods.
“You can’t afford to have the same number of people in your shop in February as you have in and around Christmas,” he said. “The risk is you then have to contract for those hours forever.
“That’s going to be bad news for our colleagues who want extra hours, particularly students who, in holiday time, need extra hours, and of course bad news for customers because service won’t be as good.”
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The Employment Rights Act includes a requirement for employers to offer guaranteed hours to casual workers who regularly work a fixed pattern. The measure is designed to curb the use of zero-hours contracts, which the government says can make it difficult for people to manage financial obligations and their personal life.
The change, which is set to come into force in January 2027, will also require employers to provide workers with reasonable notice of shifts and changes to their work schedule.
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