Question about fixed term contracts.

[missyB1]

My workplace keep employees on a fixed term contracts for 4 years before giving them a permanent contract. During that 4 years (whilst on yearly fixed term contracts), the employee is not entitled to any sick pay at all. Does that sound right? It doesn’t seem right to me.

They would get statutory sick pay

Yes they get ssp

Ahh ok I see. Is it normal to keep people on fixed term contracts for that long?

This is probably unlawful, unless permanent employees didn’t qualify for sick pay for four years either. Employers can’t treat employees less favourably solely as a result of their fixed term status.

They’d qualify for SSP either way though!

Yes that’s exactly what I thought! The Gov.uk site states that employees on fixed term contracts should not be treated less favourably. Apparently that includes pay and benefits. Hmmm...