Dismissal due to ending and non-renewal of a fixed-term contract



The ending and non-renewal of a fixed-term contract is a dismissal (section 95(1)(b), ERA 96). There will be a fair reason for non-renewal if the fixed-term contract was advertised as temporary (for example, maternity cover).


If a fixed-term contract is not renewed because of a reduced need for employees, there will be a redundancy dismissal (Pfaffinger v City of Liverpool Community College [1996] IRLR 508 (see Chapter 11: Redundancy).