Fixed-term contract
A fixed-term contract is an employment contract that ends on a specified date or when an agreed task or event is completed.
Employers may use fixed terms for project work, seasonal demand or temporary cover. The contract should explain what brings the term to an end and whether either side can end it earlier. A role can be both full-time and fixed-term: one describes the hours, the other its duration. A possible extension needs to be distinguished from an extension already agreed.
Rights and limits on fixed-term employment vary between countries. UK guidance says fixed-term employees must generally receive treatment comparable to permanent employees doing similar work for the same employer, unless different treatment has objective justification. The precise entitlement and any qualifying conditions still need checking. A short duration alone does not tell you what leave, benefits, notice or protection applies to the particular job.
Example
A twelve-month analyst contract covers a defined project. The applicant checks the end date, the clause for early termination and whether an extension would require a new written agreement.
What to check
- Is the end tied to a date, completed task or another event?
- Can either party end the contract early, and on what terms?
- What benefits and local protections apply during the term and when it ends?