a few legal bits and bobs

flogen

I've worked in my current job for over 6 months at this point, starting as a Christmas temp and staying on after january. I've not signed a contract, however due to short hours for a while my manager and I agreed that I'd take 4 hours a week. This only actually happened for a week and since then I've been on 16+ hours a week every week. I've been told that if someone works a certain amount of hours for 13 weeks in a row that becomes their contract. Is this true? And if so is it only in the absence of a physical contract?
The reason I ask is because our hours are likely to be cut soon putting me in a crappy situation. If it happens that I'm offered less than what I need (or can live on) I'll have to get another job. I just want to know if I can say my contract is for 16 hours or not...
Finally, I understand that redundancy is usually for people working somewhere for a certain amount of time (over a year or two), but if they can't offer me a contract that matches or exceeds my current one am I entitled to anything, or will I just have the option of taking the crap hours or leaving with nothing? I don't imagine I'd be entitled to much but even something small would be cool, it's only a job to do me while I study.

Thanks for the help

PatPete

Go to the local public library and get yourself a book on employment law or business law in Ireland- get one that's fairly modern -like in the last three years.
Yes there are various limits with respect to your rightss including people like you who work part time. I seem to remember a recent act titled 'Protection of Part Time workers ' or the like. Have a go - you have more rights than you think. Unions and employers alike would like us to believe that we have less rights than we know about. There is definitely a right to a written contract after a fairly short period - I cant remeber precisely but I think it could be 2 months or less.

Our man in Havana

you must be supplied your contact/terms of employment within 2 months of starting.

John2002

Have a read of this, it might have some helpful info or links for you.

John.