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🇬🇧 UK-only · Employment Rights Act · Free

Shift Cancellation Pay Calculator

Calculate exactly how much compensation you are owed if your employer cancels, moves, or cuts your shift short at the last minute.

✓ERA 2025 Rights✓Calculates Tax & NI✓Zero-Hours & Agency Workers✓Free — no sign-up

Shift Details

Consultation Note: The exact notice thresholds and payment percentages are currently being finalized in the ERA 2025 consultation. The figures shown here are the most likely expected outcome based on government proposals.

Gross Compensation Owed

£91.52

Deductions (Shift Pay is Taxable)

Total Shift Value:£91.52
Compensation Band:100%
Estimated Income Tax (20%):- £18.30
Estimated National Insurance (8%):- £7.32
Estimated Net Pay in Pocket:£65.89
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Do I Have the Right to Pay for a Cancelled Shift?

Historically, zero-hours workers and agency staff suffered from "one-sided flexibility"—employers could demand they work at a moment's notice, but could also cancel their shifts with zero notice and zero pay. The new Employment Rights Act 2025 ends this practice. You now have a legal right to compensation if your employer cancels a qualifying shift, moves it to a different day, or sends you home early.

How Much Compensation Are You Entitled To?

The exact amount of compensation depends on how much notice your employer gave you before the shift was due to start. Our calculator uses the most likely outcomes from the government's consultation on the new laws. If an employer cancels your shift with virtually no notice (e.g. on the same day), you will likely be entitled to 100% of the value of that shift. If they give you slightly more notice (e.g. 24 to 48 hours), you may only be entitled to 50% of the shift's value.

Is Shift Cancellation Pay Taxable?

Yes. The government has explicitly stated that this compensation is treated as regular "earnings" under section 221A of ITEPA. This means it will be processed through your employer's normal PAYE system and will be subject to Income Tax and National Insurance deductions just like normal wages. If you want to see how these deductions affect your overall monthly pay, use our Take-Home Pay Calculator.

When Do These Rights Come Into Force?

While the Employment Rights Bill was introduced in 2025, the government launched a massive consultation (closing August 2026) to determine the exact percentages and timeframes for short-notice cancellation. Because employers need time to update their payroll systems, these new rights are expected to become active law in 2027.

Are You on a Zero-Hours Contract?

The Employment Rights Act brings many new protections for casual workers. Alongside cancellation pay, you are also entitled to Day-One Sick Pay (check your entitlement with our Statutory Sick Pay Calculator) and a brand new right to Guaranteed Hours based on a 12-week reference period. You also accrue holiday pay for every hour you work—calculate this using our Holiday Pay Calculator.

Employment Rights Act

Frequently asked questions

Am I entitled to pay if my shift is cancelled at short notice?
Yes, under the new Employment Rights Act 2025, zero-hours workers and those on casual contracts have a legal right to compensation if a qualifying shift is cancelled, moved, or cut short by their employer at short notice.
What counts as 'short notice' for a cancelled shift under ERA 2025?
The exact legal definition of short notice is being finalised in a government consultation ending in August 2026. However, it is expected to apply to shifts cancelled with less than 24 to 48 hours notice.
How much pay am I owed if my shift is cancelled?
Compensation will likely be a proportion of the shift's total value, depending on how much notice was given. For example, a shift cancelled on the same day may entitle you to 100% of the shift's value, while a shift cancelled 24 hours in advance may entitle you to 50%.
Is shift cancellation pay taxable?
Yes. The government has confirmed that shift cancellation payments are classed as 'earnings' under section 221A of ITEPA. This means they are subject to standard Income Tax and National Insurance deductions through PAYE.
Can my employer cancel my shift without paying me?
Once these new laws come into force, your employer will be legally required to pay you compensation if they cancel a scheduled shift at short notice. If they refuse, you will be able to take them to an Employment Tribunal.
When do the new shift cancellation rights come into force?
While the Employment Rights Bill was introduced in 2025, the specific rights regarding shift cancellation pay are undergoing consultation. They are expected to become active law in 2027.
Do agency workers get shift cancellation pay rights?
Yes, the consultation explicitly includes agency workers in these new protections to stop agencies from cancelling work at the last minute without offering compensation.
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