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Only recruiting fixed term contracts- public sector

14 replies

ArchesOfWisteria · 15/03/2026 11:43

More of a moan I guess… but it’s frustrating. Anyone else in the public sector and feeling this?

I work pt and work approached me about going ft. Lots of talk, planning, acknowledgement I’d be giving up my other pt job. Then they put the advert out… five months fixed term. I said no, and they are funny because they ring fenced it internally. No other applications. Surely no one would resign from a permanent job for this? Not even promotion, possibly even a scale point lower for more responsibility.

It’s public sector and finances are bad, but they advertise all the ‘big’ roles permanently and anything at all operational only goes out fixed term cos ‘finances’. Departments are halving in size, workload is up, people leave due to the general instability and workload and no one applies for the fixed term roles. Partly as some are internal and it’s sheer madness to switch to fixed term contractually. Even those on casual contracts feel better as it’s not got an end date- some I know have been casual for years and years doing the same role.

I actually like the job, am willing to work.. but it’s mad. My other pt role is available for more hours, permanent work and higher pay and like everyone else I’m being squeezed into leaving a job I like. The departments never get out of the holes and it gets more and more inefficient due to staff turnover and anyone with experience going. They spend more than they ever would have done before redundancy because their statutory duties still remain

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allmycagesweremental · 15/03/2026 11:45

I think this will be ongoing sadly. I work in the NHS in an admin role and all jobs going out now are fixed contract only. Apparently they are bringing in AI to type letters for us later this year so our roles will change/reduce. Managers have confirmed though that there will be no more permanent roles going forward.

Handbagneeded · 15/03/2026 11:50

I think it’s happening all over.
I’m in a job that I really don’t like but it’s secure and something that can’t be taken over by AI
Ive seen several jobs recently that I like the look of and think I’d be good at but they’re all fixed term and I really can’t take the risk of giving up a secure job!

TeenLifeMum · 15/03/2026 11:52

Yep, I’m nhs and stuck because all jobs are fixed term - why would I risk losing my 11 years continuous service?!?! They won’t get anyone decent in those roles but then that’s not the priority it seems.

Handbagneeded · 15/03/2026 11:53

Also when/if they bring in the law to abolish zero hours contracts (which I agree is a good thing) then it’s only going to get worse

CookingFatCat · 15/03/2026 11:54

Agree with first poster. It’s instability whilst they work out what jobs can be done by AI.
Lots of admin, letters, minutes and reports etc.

Don’t give up your permanent role but expect it to change as well.

AgnesMcDoo · 15/03/2026 11:56

Charity sector has been based on fixed term contracts forever

ArchesOfWisteria · 15/03/2026 12:00

My role isn’t an AI takeover kind of role, many aren’t.

It’s just nuts. Depts are running on one or two people anyway.

I don’t know what they plan to do for the zero hour contract laws. One dept has loads of work and about 20 casual staff. They actually bring in recent madly.

I’m fortunate I have the other job option, it’s just sad to leave a role I love.

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ArchesOfWisteria · 15/03/2026 12:06

The other issue with all this ‘AI’ Will takeover… I’m in my late 40s and on the younger end of senior staffing. How is there any kind of strategic succession plan with a senior workforce often in their late 50s/ early 60s and every job below casual/ fixed term. There’s already a massive knowledge issue and skills issue and recruitment is a nightmare already, roles have multiple adverts

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Dr13Hadley · 15/03/2026 12:07

Similar situation OP. I’m in the NHS fortunately in a role that I love and is permanent but they’re getting rid of so many admin/operational staff in the last 12 months that now our team is down by 50% and the workload has increased by at least 30% so it’s impossible to keep up. It’s very demoralising. Anything that finally gets approved for recruitment is fixed term only so almost no one applies.

RidingMyBike · 15/03/2026 15:17

Possibly the changes to employment law about probation periods and more rights from earlier on rather than after two years are a factor? It’s a lot easier to have someone on a fixed term contract and then offer them something at the end of that than have to deal with someone problematic on a permanent contract. Of course, it runs the risk of instability for the team though.

IDontHateRainbows · 20/03/2026 20:36

RidingMyBike · 15/03/2026 15:17

Possibly the changes to employment law about probation periods and more rights from earlier on rather than after two years are a factor? It’s a lot easier to have someone on a fixed term contract and then offer them something at the end of that than have to deal with someone problematic on a permanent contract. Of course, it runs the risk of instability for the team though.

But after 6 months on a ftc, employee will essentially have the same rights as a perm employee. Yes if no longer needed, role can end but it will be akin to a redundancy situation

AlwaysRightISwear · 20/03/2026 20:46

Was there no option for a secondment to the ft role and guaranteed return to the other one if funding dries up?

lljkk · 21/03/2026 13:03

I came to live in UK 35 yrs ago.
I've always had FTC jobs here.

My ex partner always worked in private sector. Every job in his companies was "permanent" : except it wasnt. Staff were frequently let go just before 1 yr or 2 yr point. Or got redundancy at whateer point or had to apply for their jobs due to restructuring that got announced out of nowhere.

I always felt hugely much more secure having a FTC than those "permanent" staff seemed.

ArchesOfWisteria · 21/03/2026 17:20

Yesterday I saw the staffing structure. It’s a post that’s marked outside the scope of restructuring and a permanent post a scale point higher!
Well… point taken I guess

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