Employment Law

[saintpeter48]

Help/advise needed please.
I am a DJ and have worked for over 14 years, one night a week in the same pub, the brewers, Greene King, have decided to 'refit' the pub and have informed me that my services are no longer required because they are going to install a state of the art music system, they gave me one weeks notice. Can I claim any compensation for breaking our 'verbal' contract without sufficient notice. Any help much appreciated, thanks.

[IggyB]

This does not fall within the remit of employment law - as from your description you were never an employee of the pub rather you were self employed and engaged to provide a service.

Under contract law a verbal contract is equally binding as a written one however without a written contract it is very difficult for one party to rely on a term that has not been defined or previously evidenced e.g. it would be relatively easy to prove they paid you based on 14 years of previous pay however it is very difficult to prove an agreed cancellation period as you have no evidence to support it.

Exactly what period of notice to cancel the contract did you agree (was it a set number of days or weeks?)

[FredPuli43]

If the answer is no notice of termination was ever agreed, then the contract is terminable at will. This is commonly understood; for example, I once told a solicitor that he was no longer required to work on an estate winding up. That was on no notice at all, but he accepted it. You, like him, are self-employed. Your position is no different.Like him, you are entitled to any money for work done, but nothing more

[Maydup]

As the others have said, a contractwould have a clause about terminating it. Since you only have a verbal contract, and haven't agreed how either party should behave should they wish to end the arrangement, either of you are free to end it however you please. Providing all services and payments are delivered and up to date.

[saintpeter48]

Thanks for advice, i'll shrug my shoulders and move on lol.