Understanding fixed-term contracts

If an employment contract terminates when a task is completed or an event occurs or does not occur, this is legally classified as dismissal.

This gives fixed-term employees the same statutory rights as permanent employees or others on different fixed-term contracts, including the right:

• not to be unfairly dismissed (after one year's continuous employment)
• to a written statement of reasons for dismissal (after one year)
• to statutory redundancy payments (after two years)