Casual clarification

REGULAR "casuals" can in some circumstances acquire the same rights as if they were employees after two years, not four years as erroneously reported in the August Freelance. Our apologies for the error.  After one year an employee has protection against unfair dismissal; after two years, there is an entitlement to redundancy pay.

We should stress - again - that everybody's circumstances are different. So if you are a regular casual and you think they have an arrangement with a client that could have a chance of standing up in court as equivalent to employee status, you should contact the Freelance Office. You should do this as the end of their first or second year in service approaches, and not wait until the next sudden corporate downsizing.

Before you do that, do read our previous advice on the subject at www.londonfreelance.org/fl/0611work.html and www.londonfreelance.org/fl/0202work.html.