Veterinary Employment Contracts

Question 1

(T/F) As soon as you accept a job offer, you have a contract with your employer

Answer 1

True. It does not have to be written down

Question 2

What must an employer give employees if their employment contract lasts at least a month or more.

Answer 2

‘written statement of employment particulars’

The employer must provide the written statement of employment particulars within two months of the start of employment

Question 3

How long does the employer have to give an employee a written statement of employment particular

Answer 3

Within two months of the start of employment

Question 4

A ‘Principal statement’ must include

Answer 4

Business’s name
Employee’s name, job title or description of work
Start date and if the appointment has a probationary period
If a previous job counts towards a period of continuous employment, the date the period started
How much and how often an employee will get paid
Hours of work (and if you will have to work Sundays, nights or overtime)
Holiday entitlement (and if that includes public holidays)
Where an employee will be working
Whether an employee might have to relocate
If an employee works in different places, where these will be and what the employer’s address is

Question 5

Besides a principal statement what else must the employer provide

Answer 5

Written statement must also contain information about…
How long a temporary job is expected to last
The end date of a fix-term contract
Notice periods
Collective agreement
Pensions
Who to go to with a grievance
How to complain about how a grievance is handled
How to complain about a disciplinary or dismissal decision

Question 6

What to do if you have a grievance

Answer 6

First, try to sort it out with your employer
www.gov.uk
Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Services
Vetlife
BVA members – free mediation service
Further support is offered if no resolution
If you cannot resolve the problem, you might be able to make a claim to an Employment Tribunal

Question 7

What is Restrictive Covenants, Non-Compete Clause, Restraint of Practice

Answer 7

Restrict an employee from taking another job within a certain distance from the original job and for a certain amount of time (example – 8 mile radius for 24 months)

Question 8

Employers must ensure that fixed-term contract employees….

Answer 8

The same pay & conditions of permanent staff
Same or equivalent benefits package
Information about permanent vacancies within the organisation

If you have worked for the same employer for two years or more, you have the same redundancy rights as a permanent employee.

Question 9

Outline the process of an employer dismissing an employee of a fixed term contract

Answer 9

End automatically when they reach the agreed end date
Employer does not have to give any notice
If not renewed, it is considered a dismissal
If the employee has worked for 2 years, employer must show a ‘fair’ reason for not renewing the contract
After 1 year, employer should provide a written statement of reasons for not renewing the contract

Question 10

James worked for a company for 1 month continously but is on a fixed contract. Does it warrant a minimum notice period

Answer 10

1 week if they have worked continuously for 1 month

Question 11

James worked for a company for 2 years continously but is on a fixed contract. Does it warrant a minimum notice period

Answer 11

1 week for each year they have worked, if they have worked continuously for 2 years or more

Question 12

(T/F) If an employee continues working past the end of a contract without it being formally renewed, there’s no ‘implied agreement’ by the employer that the end date has changed.

Answer 12

False. It is an implied agreement.The employer still needs to give proper notice if they want to dismiss the employee.