What does this mean?

[strawberriesandcream23]

I have a job interview in two weeks for a permanant 16 hour position advertised from April- November but what does this mean!!! Obviously I will ask at the interview but I wondered if anyone has experience of this. I’m thinking maybe like a teachers position where the salary will be spread out over the year and you don’t work Dec-March. Any ideas?

I'm assuming it's not maternity cover as that would generally be in the description and temporary.

It’s very unusual to have a fixed term permanent job, permanent would imply that there is a mutual obligation for employment to automatically begin again next April ie 2020? I doubt they would spread the salary out. I think you should phone or email them and ask.

Call them and ask them :-)

Thanks everyone I will call. I thought it was odd otherwise it would say fixed term till November

My guess, and its a guess only, is that its some form of seasonal employment where you are only required to 16 hours p/week April-November and 0 hours December-March. However the fact it is permanent means you and the employer acknowledge that employment is ongoing in the 0 period, continuous service and entitlements etc. carry over year to year and you are not required to reapply for your job each year (this is known as an umbrella contract in employment law). The annual salary (calculated based on 16 hours p/week for 8 months of the year) may be divided into 12 equal monthly payments like teachers have, or possibly you just don't get paid 4 months of the year, or maybe you can choose, you'd need to ask. It doesn't affect the contractual status either way (you don't have to be being paid to still be an employee of the company if you have an umbrella contract).

You are right Maxelly. I spoke to Hr and it’s working the 16hiours those months and then no contracted hours ( maybe the odd shift but not likely to be 16 hours) and then you start 16hiurs again the following April.

@strawberriesandcream23 are you still interested?

You should find out whether they intend to pay you a retainer during Dec-Mar. You would still be able to find temporary work for those months but would have the security of a small payment coming in each month.

@DizziLizzy yes works for me

Good luck with the interview @strawberriesandcream23

@DizziLizzy thank you