DWP Fixed-term appointments. What are our rights?

jezzyboy

Does anybody know what the rights are of us fixed-term appointments who work for DWP? Can we be dismissed at any point before the end of our contracts or does the law protect us from this fate? Does it depend on the contracts themselves, and if so does anybody have their contract so they can find out? I have mislaid mine. Any knowledge would be appreciated.

iamana1ias

jezzyboy wrote: »

Does anybody know what the rights are of us fixed-term appointments who work for DWP? Can we be dismissed at any point before the end of our contracts

Yes, subject to the notice periods stated in your contract

jezzyboy wrote: »

or does the law protect us from this fate?

Nope

jezzyboy wrote: »

Does it depend on the contracts themselves, and if so does anybody have their contract so they can find out? I have mislaid mine. Any knowledge would be appreciated.

Not really. You have extra rights if you've been there more than 12 months, but with the squeeze in the DWP budget, they will be losing fixed term employees before looking at their permanent staff.

SarEl

iamana1ias wrote: »

Not really. You have extra rights if you've been there more than 12 months, but with the squeeze in the DWP budget, they will be losing fixed term employees before looking at their permanent staff.

Broadly correct. But not exactly correct. The fact that you work for the DWP has utterly no relevance whatsover. A fixed term contract may be terminated within the terms of the contract by notice at any time. And it may be terminated without notice at the end of the contract (the fixed term nature of the contract being notice in itself). But you also cannot be treated less favourably than permanant employees, so it is not true that an employer can "dispose" of their fixed term employees before their permanant staff. If there is a redundancy situation, an employer must objectively justify the selection of only fixed term contract holders (which may be hard to do if they have got 12+ months employment). But if there is no redundancy situation, and they simply choose to terminate each fixed term contract as it comes to its natural end, that is acceptable in law. Unless you have four or more years of employment on successive fixed term contracts - in which case you are now a permanant member of staff!

taralou

Following on from the previous conversations (I know they are over a year ago) I have much the same question but with a difference.
I too work for DWP on FTC which has been extended twice and have now been there since June 2009. I am due to finish in Nov but once again we are having to complete 'Competency questions' to assess if we are good enough to stay or go. Also in the last couple of months DWP have brought in NEW permanent staff. We have been told that these people have been 'tupe'd' over from 3rd party providers who were working alongside Jobcentreplus. These providers recently lost their contracts with DWP hence the staff have now come to our offices.
My argument is that FTC employers have had to jump through hoops to secure our positions from the very first interview stages until now where we are still having to justify our positions. These people have just walked in and effectively taken our jobs from under us.:(
Is this right and legal??
We have also recently heard that these people were due to go elsewhere and there were some problems and DWP advised they would take 50% of the staff???? No interview, no testing, nothing.
When I originally applied to the DWP I had to do a competency based questionaire online, I passed that and then had to go to the local town hall (with hundreds of other people) for an english and numeracy test. After passing that I then had a face to face interview and then was finally told I had the job. Now I have had to do 2 x competency based questionaires to try and keep my position .
Any advice would be received most gratefully (sorry have gone on a bit!!):eek:

Hammyman

taralou wrote: »

My argument is that FTC employers have had to jump through hoops to secure our positions from the very first interview stages until now where we are still having to justify our positions. These people have just walked in and effectively taken our jobs from under us.:(
Is this right and legal??

Yes. DWP had no option under TUPE.

Hammyman

taralou wrote: »

When I originally applied to the DWP I had to do a competency based questionaire online, I passed that and then had to go to the local town hall (with hundreds of other people) for an english and numeracy test. After passing that I then had a face to face interview and then was finally told I had the job.

Be honest...the tests were hardly rocket science. You'd have to be functionally illiterate and innumerate to fail them.

taralou

Hammyman - did you take these tests?

ladybird1964

I am also on a FTC with the DWP, I started in March 2009 and have had my contract renewed about 3 times. We also have had to complete 2 competency tests to keep our jobs. My contract is due to end in November but this Friday will find out if it is due to be renewed.
I have a question............when I applied for the job, it was "subbed" to me through my jobcentre where I signed. The statement read that this job was through a LEP agreement. ( local employment partnership). Having read about LEP jobs (even though they dont exist nowdays) I thought you had rights like being made a permanent member of staff after 2 years of service. Does anyone know? I am with the PCS union and apparently there is now like a get out clause with LEPS that have recently been added ( i dont know what) but if I was taken on under the LEP agreement in 2009 surely that would still stand ? Any advice would be welcome. Thanks

taralou

I am finding out tomorrow whether I stay or not, will post again tomorrow night and let you know.
I, and many others at my office do feel the way this has all been handled and the way the DWP have treated us is pretty poor. Just left hanging around wondering if you still have a job or not:mad::mad:
By the way I notice Hammyman has still not bothered to respond to my last post!!

ladybird1964

fingers crossed for you taralou x