to think employers should stop abusing use of temporary contracts?

[mumnosGOLDisbest]

I'm on my 4th year on a temporary contract and DH has done 2 years through an agency in the same job. If an employer wants you for an indefinate period and long term then why not guve a permanent contract? They have you over a barrel. If you stand up for youself theres always someone else to step into your job: :(

Are you in the uk?

Because they don't want to pay for your sickness, holidays and pension I'm afraid :(
I bet you work in a Local Authority?

I know your pain, I'm coming up to 2 years with my employer, always bloody temporary contracts... grr. I don't understand it really, after so long they still have to give you redundancy etc.

If you are on what is classed as a fixed term contract in the uk, and it gets renewed - after four years you are then legally classed as a permanent employee.

Check the direct.gov website for more details.

Yup, but after two years you DO have rights, whatever 'HR' says... see here: www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/Understandingyourworkstatus/Fixedtermworkers/DG_175138

My employer didn't believe the bit about redundancy payment but then coincidently(?) decided to award me a 'bonus' of the same amount if i shut up and went away

Sorry, should have said that of the employer can prove that a temporary contract is more suitable then they do have a get out clause as far as changing to a permanent contract is concerned.

Yes i'm in the uk and yes i'm local authority. How did you guess? Thanks jeezy i'm just hoping they don't change the 4yr rule untill i complete this yr! It doesn't help DH though. He's agency so can expect a few months of no work over the xmas period when theres less work.

Our main problem is we are wanting to get a bigger mortgage and move. Cant do this without a permanent job.

I knew it mumnos! Our team has 8 staff, 3 are contractors who just keep getting renewed rather than fill a permanent post. It's the cheaper alternative when LAs aren't allowed to recruit for a permanent post. The contractors get paid more than we do, but get none of the benefits. It's shit for them.

Unfortunately (I know from bitter experience) being employed on a fixed term contract for 4 or more years does not guarantee a permanent contract. However you should be made permanent if you have been on a fixed term contract for more than four years, with unbroken service, if your contract has been renewed at least once. The employer can only keep you on a fixed term contract under these circumstances if they have a 'objective justification'.
See Unison re fixed term contracts
Are you in a union, they will be able to give more advice and support.

I'm lucky by the sounds of it. I'm a teacher so get the sick pay, hols etc but not the higher pay or job security which i really need. I don't know how a school can give a temp contract when they will always need to fill that position. I'm not a spare teacher!

DH on the other hand gets messed around so much. Gets put on all the worst shifts to cover others, no benefits and is the first to be laid off when there's a lull ( same time for about 10 wks each year.

Thanks lilith i'm in a union so will be checking at the end of the year. In my case i know my contract will be renewed unless there's a dastic decrease in pupil intake (not on the horizon). If they know they need me next year and that I will then become permanent and it wont cist any extra, why prolong the situation?

My DSIL and DNeice have been 'sacked' for a month every year, for the last 4 years. They are apparently 'Temporary'. They cannot be given contracts.

This means SIL gets called in when she is off shift (and if she says no is reminded that she is a temp) and doesn't get sick pay.

DNeice is in the same boat, but she's been told she doesn't qualify for paid holidays either, as she's only a temp.

They are both being used and abused by two disgusting companies. They won't rock the boat, no matter how much DH and I plead, because they need the money. They live in a very small town, where the high street is full of boarded up shops and there are no jobs.

Both have been told that if they don't like what is happening to them they can quit because their jobs 'can be done cheaper by the Polish' - and it's true . SIL did approach someone once, job centre or benefits office or something. Their only advice was that if she quit, she wouldn't get anything for 6 weeks as she would have 'chosen to become unemployed'

DNeice's company is a large, international one (and her father works for them too in a more specialised role). SILs is a medium sized, public service type place.

It is absolutely disgusting and I wish with all my heart we could do something about it.

OP YANBU

Actually it's a fallacy to think they do it because it's cheaper. In most cases it's often much more expensive but as a contractor you don't count towards the manager/department headcount so it's a way to secure extra pairs of hands.

Ridiculous but true. At least this was the case for all my clients in the banking and finance industries.

LtEve completely sympathise. It is disgusting and apart from saving o. A wage for a month or 2, they sack/lay off so you can't claim 4yrs continuous service. It shouldn't be allowed!

Agree It is a disgusting way to treat employees.
I shall be watching this thread with interest to see if it gets as big as certain other threads do!

Probably not as i think it's one of those rarw aibus where we all agree :)

*rare

I hope you still get your legally mandated holiday pay.

"AIBU to think employers should stop abusing use of temporary contracts?"

What are you, some kind of communist? Every time a business is forced to take on a permanent employee, the baby Jesus cries, a kitten dies and an Audi dealership closes.

Apparently working as a contractor is getting to me...

skippy yes we do.
somebloke you had my blood boiling for a sec there :)

Almost as bad as the 0 hour contracts. Never heard of them before till my friend was given one!

Just gets worse! So does your friend get paid extra for her 'overtime' once shes worked her contracted non-hrs?

Totally agree with you! In my area (abroad) 65% of contracts proposed every year are temp/short term/seasonal according to an article I saw in the paper last week :(

Can't get a loan/mortgage/buy or even rent a house without a permanent full-time or well paid part-time job...it sucks.

What the jeff is a 0 hour contract??

I'm guessing it's like the 3hr contract they are proposing at DHs agency. If thete isn't enough work they will guarantee to pay for 3hrs per wk if he remains with them! That would mean if hewas stuck on 3hrs for several wks and quit he couldn't yhen claim jobseekers as he would be the 1 who left. 0 hrs is a joke!