Fixed term contract

[PMB]

I am on a fixed term contract until end of October. A few weeks ago an email was sent to everyone saying that £500 was to be given to help with the cost of living crisis if they were employed on 1st October unless they were serving notice. I asked HR about this and HR are saying that I don't qualify as I am serving notice. As far as I am aware I am not serving notice but am leaving at the end of October as my contract has come to a natural end. Ate HR correct in saying that I am serving notice as it is a fixed term contract?

[ULA]

A fixed-term contract (FTC) will usually expire automatically, at the end of the term or project, without the need for notice, although some FTCs also provide for early termination on notice before the expiry of the fixed term.

The question is therefore were you given notice that the contract would be expiring at the end of Oct when it was naturally coming to a conclusion or were you given notice of early termination.?

If you have not been given notice and you are leaving due to the natural expiry of your FTC, then there may be an argument to say that you are not on notice.

In addition, which may help you, is that as someone on an FTC you do have certain legal rights and one of those is not to be treated less favourably than permanent employees.