Contract length query...how long.......?

shudd1967

Friend of mine works for a local government department and has been on a short term contract. The contract runs out on 31st March and the department is being reviewed and job cuts have been recommended. However, the agency she works for have certain issues and in actual fact the 3 people who are on these contracts are needed to be honest for at least another year. Even the management know that these people will be needed.

Now my question, these 3 people have been on short term contacts and 2 of them will have reached 3 years in the spring sometime. If they get an extension for another year they will have been there for 4 years. One of them has heard a rumour that employment law states that if they have been there for 4 years their contract has to be made permanent. If that's the case they think they will be dropped at the end of March and the dept will have to make do without them. I can't see this anywhere on the internet & I do not believe this is true.

Anyone with any knowledge know if this is true or another tale?

Jarndyce

Yes it is true.
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/Understandingyourworkstatus/Fixedtermworkers/DG_175138

shudd1967

Thank you for that.

SarEl

Jarndyce wrote: »

Yes it is true.
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/Understandingyourworkstatus/Fixedtermworkers/DG_175138

Ermm - no it isn't.

After four years on fixed term contracts you can ask to be permanant, but the employer can refuse, although they must give sound business justifications for refusing - albeit that it makes little differece because by that time you have all the rights you would ever get under a "permanant contract" (which since such a thing doesn't exist anyway...).

But the OP's friend doesn't work for local government anyway - she works for an agency! So she will never become a permanant worker of local government - she doesn't work for them!

Jarndyce

OK - yes, you're right - was dashing and didn't notice the agency bit.

SarEl

Jarndyce wrote: »

OK - yes, you're right - was dashing and didn't notice the agency bit.

I know - you would never have made such a fundamental slip if you'd not been rushing. It happens to us all