Advice over Trial periods for work .. extend again and again and ...

Yes they are essentially correct. I did nine months on three monthly temporary contracts when I started and then got taken on. Others were there over 3 years on temporary contracts and weren't taken on until after me. For agency workers it can be worse. One agency guy has been at my warehouse for 6 years and every time he might get taken on he has either had a few days sick, or had an accident or is over the limit on mistakes so never quite makes the cut.
Its not quite that simple because after 2 years of continual employment you gain employment rights for whatever contract you are on, but you don't get the right to a full time contract with full time benefits.

I'd also caution against relying on shift managers comments. Most big retailers run a business model where those at the top make decisions and shift managers have no say in what happens.

You need to stick it out and one day they will take you on, and working for one of the big supermarkets is generally a secure job.



Darren

Permanent is just a temp contract without an end date YET.

What contractual conditions change when you go "permanent" that is the key something material like a pay rise or more of something

You have no extra security by them removing the end/review date, because they can just change their minds and put one back in.


There is no 4 year limit they can do this for as long as they want.

Unless there is a contractual change at the end of your probation, then it's quite irrelevant that they're doing this. The following applies assuming that you're employed directly by the employer:

The '4 year' thing is where you are employed on a fixed term contract (a contract with a specific end date), and it keeps being extended. After 4 years, you have the right to request the contract to be made 'non-fixed term' (ie, 'permanent') and they would have to have a very good reason to refuse.

However, that's also irrelevant! Whether you're on a fixed term contract, or a 'permanent' contract with a probation period, makes no difference. Why? Because they can get rid of you for pretty much any reason in the first two years anyway, no matter what your contract or probationary status. And after two years, they would have to follow due process to dismiss you - no matter what your contract or probationary status. Ie, they can't dismiss you after two years unless it's for a reason allowed in law, otherwise it's unfair dismissal.

So the only thing that really matters is how long you have had continuous employment there. You don't need to worry about anything else. Of course, whilst it doesn't change the legal position, the only thing I would say is that if your employer is continuing to extend probation, it may suggest that they are not thinking about keeping you all on.

HTH
KiKi

Which supermarket is this, out of interest?

I work for a supermarket and for the first couple of three month contracts I had an 'end' date printed on them; when I reached the end of the second term the 'end' date disappeared meaning I'd been taken on permanently.