What rights do I have on a temporary contract

KiKi

Hi OP - Patman is correct. If you have had no breaks of employment (more than a week), then the fact that you are fixed-term is completely and utterly irrelevant.

Assuming no employment breaks, after year one, you had the same employment rights as all permanent employees. They cannot just give you notice, or end your contract on the date it currently states. To get rid of you, now, they will have to treat you the same as any permanent employee, and go through a formal redundancy process, which includes redundancy pay. Not putting you on a 'perm' contract makes no difference - the law treats you as if you are. So you are in the same position as all your colleagues, and the company can't change that now - it's too late.

With regards to the same pay etc, you do not have to be paid the same. You should be on the same scale and your pay should be reviewed the same as everyone else, but you do not have to be on exactly the same salary - the law allows for variation in salary due to the market, demand, skills set, experience etc. If they can justify it in those terms, then so be it. However, if they are paying you less *because* you're on a fixed term contract, that is breaking the law, and you should probably remind them of that. Proving it, however, might be tricky.

However, the 'allowances' or other perks that 'perm' staff get should also be applied to you unless there are very good reasons not to. Remind them of that, as well.

Just to clarify re the '4 year rule' - you don't have the automatic right to a permanent contract after 4 years being FT. You have the right to ask, and they should make it happen unless there are good reasons not to.

HTH
KiKi