An Assistant Lecturer v An Institute of Technology [2024]

Summary Sentence:
A lecturer’s 12-month probationary period for a 24-month fixed-term contract was found to be disproportionate and was reduced to six months.

Background:
The Complainant is a lecturer with the Respondent institute of technology and was hired in September 2023 on a 24-month fixed-term contract. The Complainant originally believed that the 12-month probation period was a mistake, as there were other errors in his contract, but this was confirmed by the Respondent after the Complainant came across difficulty in getting a mortgage due to being on probation. The Complainant argued that the probationary period was discriminatory against him as a fixed-term worker on the basis that