Fixed Term/Temporary Contracts Guidance - August 2026
In this section
- 1. Introduction
- 2. Purpose
- 3. Scope
- 4. Differences Between a Fixed Term Contract and Temporary Contract
- 5. Workers
- 6. Successive Use of Fixed term/ Temporary Contracts
- 7. Issuing Fixed term/ Temporary Contracts
- 8. Rights of Fixed term/ Temporary Employees
- 9. Fixed Term/Temporary Contracts and Restructuring
- 10. Fixed-term or Temporary Employees Applying for Secondments
- 11. Selection for Redundancy
- 12. Redundancy Payment
- 13. Continuous Service
- 14. Access to Permanent Posts
- 15. Renewal and Non-Renewal of Fixed Term/Temporary Contracts
- 16. Reviewing Fixed term / Temporary Contracts
- 17. Renewal of a Fixed term / Temporary Contract
- 18. Non-Renewal of a Fixed Term / Temporary Contract
- 19. Ensuring Equality of Opportunity
- Appendix A – Restructuring and Fixed Term/ Temporary Contracts Q&A
- Appendix B – Consultation Invite Letter Fixed Term/ Temporary Contract
8. Rights of Fixed term/ Temporary Employees
Fixed term/temporary employees who have two continuous years’ service have the same remedies in law for unfair dismissal as an employee on a permanent contract. There is no length of service requirement in relation to 'automatically unfair grounds', e.g. sex, race, disability, age, etc. discrimination. A claim for unfair dismissal may be made if the employer fails to renew the contract without a fair reason and without following a fair procedure.
The non-renewal of a fixed-term contract is a dismissal in law and employees on these contracts have the right to a written statement of the reasons for this dismissal. Further information on the correct procedure to follow when not renewing a contract is contained in section 18.