Employees with Fixed Term contracts also now have the legal right to be treated as favourably as ‘comparable’ permanent employees, i.e. they are entitled to the same terms and conditions of employment (e.g. perks, holiday entitlements, bonus schemes, training, in redundancy situations, in promotion situations, pension schemes).

This does not apply to Workers (e.g. casual staff, agency temps).  Employers can justify giving those on Fixed Term contracts less favourable treatment than permanent employees for certain, genuine business reasons.

N.B.: A ‘comparable’ permanent employee is someone who works for the same employer, doing the same or a similar job.

The Direct Gov website gives useful advice about Fixed Term contracts – http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/Understandingyourworkstatus/Fixedtermworkers/index.htm

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Please note that the advice given on this website and by our Advisors is guidance only and cannot be taken as an authoritative interpretation of the law. It can also not be seen as specific advice for individual cases. Please also note that there are differences in legislation in Northern Ireland.