I think I might be grasping at straws here but please let me know your thoughts.
I have been on a temporary contract with my (public sector) employer for just short of two years now. This contract was extended on 3 occassions during this period but I have recently been told that it will not be renewed come later this month (the actual end date being 10 days short of the two year mark which would have entitled me to a small amount of redunancy pay). Today I was pulled aside by my line manager and told that if I sign up with an employment ageny I will be rehired by the company but on reduced pay to that which I have been earning to date.
There is obviously a need for me in the company but I have been let go to reduce overall costs. Do I have grounds to raise this issue with anyone or should I just be thankful that I at least know that I will have some form of employment when my current contract ends?
Laws on temp / agency staff have changed recently. Yu shouold not be disadvantaged in any way
Its a complex one but you probably have a case for continued employment at the same rate
Have a look on the tuc site it has good guidance but yo need real quality advice.
Depending on the employer there may well be collective agreements as well - temps in teh NHS are not supposed to be used for more than a year IIRC
http://www.tuc.org.uk/tuc/rights_main.cfm
yep, TJ is right, im going to be ****ing over my boss very soon, shame as i quite like the guy...
TJ, thanks for the info. Its a difficult to call. In one hand I'm glad to know that there is work for me once my contract ends but on the other I know I'll be doing exactly the same work for less pay and don't know how long I'm likely to be employed there. Part of we just thinks I should walk away and let my employer get another temp in that they will have to train up.
As I was only a temp I was not a member of any union so have no support.
On the flip side I would suggest that since we are in a recession I would not rock the boat, be glad Ive still got a job and lap up the offer.
Thats not legal advice, just what Id do in your position.
You may well have been made redundant if you were on a perm contract, at least being on a temp basis you look flexible to them. Nothing to stop you looking for more work while they still pay you.
Be pragmatic.
Temps can join unions.
See waht you can see on the tuc site - acas will have info as well. i suspect you have accrued rights already ad what they are proposing would not be legal
TJ may be right, but bear in mind if you ever want a perm job with them you need to look attractive. Rocking the boat right now may be counterproductive.
By all means check the legality, look for an alternative job, but just dont get your contract terminated till you have a backup wage comming in.
Life will be a whole lot more shite without an income.
Trimix you're right however I don't think that a permanent position will ever to available as my employer is (due to Government funding cuts)making redunancies left, right and centre
I suspect but am not sure that will have accrued rights as a permanent worker already
As I was only a temp I was not a member of any union so have no support.
I am not trying to be a smartarse but temps can and do join TUs. The GMB, in particular, is very happy to hear from and advise members who are temps in a wide variety of industries.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GMB_(trade_union)
I'm sorry I don't have any more helpful advice, but good luck!
Good luck with that. Sorry to sound pessimistic but the AWD stands for nothing in the UK, and I've yet to see a union that will actively fight the case of a temp.
Good luck mate, just dont burn your bridges.
I spent ages without a job - when you cant afford the petrol to drive anywhere good to ride your bike life is just poo.