Legal Question in Employment Law in United Kingdom

Fix term contract

Working as a contractor for a recruitmant agency I had made a fix term contract for the duration of 3 months, specifying that the contract is FIXED for 3 months and if they wish to terminate it by the end of it and not continue, I should get 2 weeks notice.

This was signed by the company owner.

Yesterday I was told that my service is no longer required, barely 1 1/2 months into the contract, because this branch of the company would close. They wrote me a complimentary letter and paid me up until yesterday. No further money would be paid to me, according to them.

Obviously, it's one day before Christmas and all I have left is the pay for last week.

Have they broken the law and what should I do now with regards to this contract? Can I sue them or at least push them to pay me a certain amount of the money I thought I would earn.


Asked on 12/23/05, 3:42 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Andrew Dutton Legal -Zone

Re: Fix term contract

This is a perfectly clear case of breach of contract. Where a person works under a fixed term contract and that employment is terminated prematurely, they will be entitled to payment of the amount they would have earned until the end of the fixed term.

You should calculate how much you would have received up to the end of the contract term. Take into account any tax or other deductions that would have been made plus a reasonable amount for expenses in attending work. You should then write to them requiring immediate payment of this amount within seven days. If payment is not forthcoming an action should be brought in the small claims court. I will be happy to assist with this if necessary.

Andrew Dutton

Legal-Zone

[email protected]

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Answered on 12/23/05, 5:22 am


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