My workplace is closing before the end of my contract.

Spendless

I am on a short term contract till the end of the year, however the company employing me are closing their offices as a result of losing a contract. We were to shut for the Christmas break on 23rd Dec, but the office is closing a week before. Only 1 other office will be open after mine closes and that is 50 miles away. I have no suitable transport to get there, and would probably not be able to get a lift either, partly because any other members of staff live in different towns to myself and also because I work fewer hours per day than the rest.
My line manager does not currently know what is happening and anyone who 'should' know currently doesn't. Any ideas as to what should happen?

an9i77

What's your notice period (in your contract if you were given one) ?

Spendless

My notice period is 1 month.

Mudd14

I assume a redundancy situation would occur, the other workplace could be offered as a 'suitable' alterntice if in fact it is one. If not redundancy would be the reason for dismissal, in which case if you cannot work your notice you would be paid in lieu of it and any contractual and statutory redundancy pay.

zzzLazyDaisy

Are you directly employed by the company, or through an agency.

If by the company, how long have you been employed by this company?

If you have been continuously employed on a series of short term contracts, then the start date is when the first contract started.

Spendless

I am directly employed by the company and have been so for the past few weeks. Previously I was working there employed by a recruitment agency. This is my 1st short term contract being employed by the company.

Spendless

Redundancy doesn't apply. I am on a short term contract and wouldn't have been working there for long enough anyway.

Mudd14

Wy wouldnt redundancy apply? Redundancy pay wouldnt but redundancy might.

Spendless

Mudd14 wrote: »

Wy wouldnt redundancy apply? Redundancy pay wouldnt but redundancy might.

I'd have thought because I am not being made redundant? My short term contract is finishing, just they are taking my workplace away a week before I'm due to finish.

DVardysShadow

Spendless wrote: »

My short term contract is finishing, just they are taking my workplace away a week before I'm due to finish.

Have you been given notice that you will be terminated early? If not, let them sort themselves out and don't distract them from the bigger picture by making a fuss about it.

zzzLazyDaisy

Spendless wrote: »

I'd have thought because I am not being made redundant? My short term contract is finishing, just they are taking my workplace away a week before I'm due to finish.

Closure of the workplace is one of the statutory definitions of redundancy. If this is the reason that your contract is ending early, then this is a redundancy situation.

In real terms it probably doesn't make much difference - as you point out, you haven't been 5there long enough to accrue any legal rights beyond what it says in your contract. However, if you are asked by a prospective employer why your contract was terminated after such a short time, it is legitimate to say that you were made redundant due to closure of the workplace.