MORE than four million workers’ livelihoods are subject to the whims of their bosses as they toil in insecure work, a Citizens Advice study reveals today.

While an estimated 800,000 people in England and Wales are lumped with headlinegrabbing zero-hours contracts, more than 2.3m are stuck working variable shift patterns and another 1.1m only have temporary contracts with their employers.

Citizens Advice warned the situation is a serious challenge to workers when planning their finances, as well as piling on stress levels and anxiety.