short term contract

frenchie724

I have been on a 6 month rolling contract for  13 months. My last contract expired in February 2020 but I have been carrying on as usual and have been rota’d until the end the end of 2020. I had to chase the company up in August 2019 to reissue my contract. I received it and it that ended in February 2020 and I hadn’t got around to reminding them to send me a new contract.  I have been paid in full until the end of March, but my manager said she was looking into whether, because I was in a 6 month contract whether I am eligible for furlough. Do you think I  am eligible? 

Illusionary

I assume that your working arrangement is deemed to be employment rather than self-employment. This scenario isn't covered by the Government guidance. However, there is third-party commentary that appears to support the eligibility of your employer to place you on furlough and access the Government support scheme. Either way, bear in mind that your employer needs to agree to place you on furlough - it's not an automatic right for employees.

https://www.kingsleynapley.co.uk/services/department/employment/employers/the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme-faqs-for-uk-employers

What about fixed term employees whose term expires during the life of the scheme?

The official guidance does not cover this issue. However, the purpose of the scheme is to keep people in paid employment and reduce the level of redundancies. The expiry and non-renewal of a fixed term contract amounts to a dismissal for statutory purposes. So, our view is that the scheme should allow employers and employees to agree that the fixed term contract in this situation should be treated as being renewed.