Not allowed to apply for the same jobs as perms

[Ironicus]

Hi,
I am currently employed as a contractor in a large company's IT department. I have recently applied for a higher grade job but was then told (informally) that contractors can only apply for the lowest grade jobs and ony perms will be considered for anything above that.

This restriction was NOT mentioned on the job application, the internal job portal or anywhere that I could find (the only relevant document I found on the intranet said a basic grade colleague could apply for any job as long as they were qualified).

So basically my question is - does the company have the right to do this?

Thank you for any answer in advance...

[cojak]

Hi,
I am currently employed as a contractor in a large company's IT department. I have recently applied for a higher grade job but was then told (informally) that contractors can only apply for the lowest grade jobs and ony perms will be considered for anything above that.

This restriction was NOT mentioned on the job application, the internal job portal or anywhere that I could find (the only relevant document I found on the intranet said a basic grade colleague could apply for any job as long as they were qualified).

So basically my question is - does the company have the right to do this?

Thank you for any answer in advance...

Sorry to tell you this but you aren't a real contractor.

Look again at your contract - does it talk about Fixed Term Contract (or did the Agent mention it?). If you had a job application then I suspect this is what you are on.

If it does then you have the worst of both worlds - contractors DO NOT have career progression within a company but an FTC does not have the monetary compensation of a proper contractor or the legal protection of a permie.

So yes, the company does have the right to do this.

Sorry - you're stuffed.

[kevpuk]

WCS ^^

FTC is the worst of both worlds, IMHO.....

[rurffy]

WCS ^^

FTC is the worst of both worlds, IMHO.....

I had a FTC with Microsoft - i turned it down!
It is just a waste of time..

[northernladuk]

Hi,
I am currently employed as a contractor in a large company's IT department. I have recently applied for a higher grade job but was then told (informally) that contractors can only apply for the lowest grade jobs and ony perms will be considered for anything above that.

No you are not.

[Wanderer]

told (informally) that contractors can only apply for the lowest grade jobs and ony perms will be considered for anything above that.

This restriction was NOT mentioned on the job application, the internal job portal or anywhere that I could find (the only relevant document I found on the intranet said a basic grade colleague could apply for any job as long as they were qualified).

So basically my question is - does the company have the right to do this?

Thank you for any answer in advance...

The company isn't doing anything. One person has told you something informally and most likely deny ever saying it if challenged by the company.

My advice is always to go right ahead and do what you want to do. Make a formal application and ignore what people with no authority to speak for the HR department tell you.

[Sausage Surprise]

No you are not.

He might be though

[cojak]

The company isn't doing anything. One person has told you something informally and most likely deny ever saying it if challenged by the company.

My advice is always to go right ahead and do what you want to do. Make a formal application and ignore what people with no authority to speak for the HR department tell you.

No harm in applying I suppose.

[SarahL2012]

Here's how it works in most of the companies I've been at;

If you are on a fixed term contract (paid via the company's payroll) then after 12 weeks you usually have the same rights as one of their employees - so go ahead and apply.

If you are a contractor (you invoice either the company or an agency) then you are 'external' from a HR perspective so can't normally apply for roles advertised internally.

[Mephisto]

Hypothetically...

If one's contract was fine with no obvious IR35 bother but then when they start they receive a 'contractor care pack' via email from HR when would the worry start? If said pack stated something like 'you are entitled to view and apply for permanent positions advertised internally during your time with <client>', would panic set in?

Have HR just got a process/policy issue?