Any Agency workers about??

JemJam

I'm curious to know how many agency workers are on the MSE forum and how they think their jobs fair in terms of pay / contracts / temp-perm / benefits, etc.

I've been temping since Autumn 07 and have been promoted to full time admin officer from part time typist since about feb 08, not the best wage (my OH gets a quid more than me for muuuuuch less work the only exception is his is more "computer based" cos he's in data) as I'm doing a scale 2 post which is about 14000+ and I'm on around 10 grand a yr. Truth be told i didn't expect to still be in this job in 2009 (its not for the want of trying believe me but after being a lecturer for 3 years in a totally different subject to the environment i'm working in now, people seem to think that you wouldn't want to be anything else and that you'll still go back to teaching - most feedback from jobs has been that either i'm over or under-qualified, which is sometimes annoying as i wouldnt be applying for the job if i wasnt interested in it and didn't want it! ).

Anyway I'm curious to know what situation other temp workers are in, espesh with things like sick pay (or lack of), and unions and all the rest of it, or if there's another thread like this please point me in the right direction as i couldn't find much when i was searching the forums!:D


Jem

LittleVoice

Hi

Used to be a lecturer but I've been working as an admin temp for one high street agency since May 07. I have received SSP for sickness absence.

LV

JemJam

Hi LV, what were the terms of ur SSP? Did you have to be off sick for a certain amount of time before you were entitled to any SSP as it is with my agency?? Am not sure if it's the same for all agencies but i was told by my, sort of agency 'advisor' if you will (can't think of the right term) says I have to be off for 3 weeks before i can claim any SSP, and even then it won't be backdated, which i find so bizzare!

Am not sure if it's in the hands of the agency or the employer, and my line manager hasn't a clue about it either!


Jem

LittleVoice

As an agency worker, it is the agency which deals with all your pay, including SSP.

My absence was for elective surgery so I was able to get things sorted in advance. It worked in the usual way of having 3 waiting days and then SSP for the remainder of my absence.

But I had been working with them for some months and I believe they can refuse to pay early on - but should provide form so that you can claim direct from appropriate department (DWP I expect). When I first mentioned it to my "consultant", she said I wasn't entitled to SSP but I insisted and she checked (and learned another thing about temp working!)

JemJam

Hmmmmm thats given me a lot to think about thanks LV. I'm having an op in March and told my boss & agency back in december when i found out the date, thats when i was told about having 3 weeks off then being entitled to SSP. Methinks I'm gonna have to do a lot more digging, or ask someone who makes more sense than who i spoke to last cos they always confuse me lol. I always thought it was barmy to only be entitled to SSP after 3 weeks being off sick??!!

How do you fair in the way of AL and stat hols? Do you get paid for bank holidays and such?

Lots of Q's i know!!

Jem

Does anyone know of any legislation about it cos i'd like to have any info to refer to back about this - have searched loads on the internet to no avail and the t&c of my agency doesn't have much info on it about SSP.

MunnyMan

JemJam wrote: »

Hmmmmm thats given me a lot to think about thanks LV. I'm having an op in March and told my boss & agency back in december when i found out the date, thats when i was told about having 3 weeks off then being entitled to SSP. Methinks I'm gonna have to do a lot more digging, or ask someone who makes more sense than who i spoke to last cos they always confuse me lol. I always thought it was barmy to only be entitled to SSP after 3 weeks being off sick??!!

How do you fair in the way of AL and stat hols? Do you get paid for bank holidays and such?

Lots of Q's i know!!

Jem

Does anyone know of any legislation about it cos i'd like to have any info to refer to back about this - have searched loads on the internet to no avail and the t&c of my agency doesn't have much info on it about SSP.

does this link answer a lot of your questions?

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/Employees/Typesofworkoremployment/DG_173252

LittleVoice

JemJam wrote: »

I always thought it was barmy to only be entitled to SSP after 3 weeks being off sick??!!

How do you fair in the way of AL and stat hols? Do you get paid for bank holidays and such?

They probably got mixed up with the three waiting days. However there can also be issues round calculations and relevant dates - where only a Wednesday counts! My agency uses the standard of a week being 5 days. I was able to provide a medical certificate from the start - issued by my GP who had the discharge paperwork from the hospital.

The agency uses the standard REC-agreed percentage - 10.something per cent (will have to go up in April but I can't remember what to). They include accrued hours on weekly payslip. I take the accrued holiday whenever I take holiday or a bank holiday comes along. I do take some unpaid holiday too as 24 days (including BHs) isn't much!

JemJam

LittleVoice wrote: »

However there can also be issues round calculations and relevant dates - where only a Wednesday counts! My agency uses the standard of a week being 5 days.

Thats what they said to me about you have to be off for three consecutive wednesdays before you're entitled to anything?? It feels like such a con!

JemJam

MunnyMan wrote: »

does this link answer a lot of your questions?

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/Employees/Typesofworkoremployment/DG_173252

Thats brill thanks, I cant see how any agency can justify being off for 3 consecutive wednesdays before you get SSP so I may give the HMRC a bell this week to see what they say about it.

I did notice on the site it said "SSP is payable to you in exactly the same way as it is payable to other employees, if you meet the qualifying conditions for payment. ", my only quibble is what are these conditions lol.

Thanks for the info tis much appreciated!