Redunancy looming...asked to sign a contract?

transparent_opacity · 1 December 2008 at 7:48PM

Hi there,

I've been working for my current employer for 7 months, but have never signed an employment contract.

Last week we were warned that redundancies were possibly in the pipeline, and that the works Christmas meal was to be cancelled. We all have individual review meetings this week, and anybody affected by the redundancies will be noticifed by the 12th.

Today I've been asked to sign an employment contract; nothing unusual, just standard stuff. Is this a bad sign, or just coincidence? Will my rights be affected now that I have signed something?

Cheers,
Chris

Liz_the_Whizz · 2 December 2008 at 4:59PM

Hi Chris,

Signing your contract doesn't change anything for you, for better or worse.

The fact your employer is finally getting round to giving you written particulars of your employment (you should have them within 2 months of appointment) could be them preparing the ground by tidying away a possible complaint you might have against them.

But it could just be that in the course of the redundancy exercise, they have realised you were never sent a contract.

Fingers crossed for a positive outcome, good luck.

DaisyFlower · 2 December 2008 at 5:22PM

Dont think it will matter as you haven't got a long service, under a years service gives you little employee rights.

System · 2 December 2008 at 6:37PM

just a word of warning a friend recently changed her hrs still the same amount just different days her new contract states her hrs are flexible the old one said fixed[ this wasnt pointed out when she was given it to sign and i guess she didnt read it carefully !] now she faces the prospect of paying for child care because her hrs are about to be very flexible !