Are agency's destroying this country ?

jay_1978

The title is kind of harsh I know but this is something I feel strongly about, Not long ago I signed up to a agency after finding a full time job in my local jobcentre. I go and sign up and give all my details. I then ask when this job starts to which I am told that the actual vacancy didn't exist, Basically they put them out there to reel in the people with the relevant qualifications for when those kind of jobs would turn up, So from thinking I have a full time job. I was stuck doing 2-3 days a week at like 4 hours a day, Now I know this happens because I have seen other people on here discussing it, Its kind of annoying that every single vacancy you look at now if through a agency. I am not exaggerating either when I say " Every vacancy ", How are people supposed to have any kind of future if you have to go through a agency and not know if your going be working from one week to the next ? surely the powers that be can do something about company's constantly using these agency's ? If not then they need to stop complaining about the increase in unemployment.

12bdebt3

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/employment/employees/employmentcontractsandconditions/dg_10027514

Essentially agencies are the unwanted middle men but JobCentres aren't in a position to turn down employment opportunities for jobseekers. Also it has advantages for certain people but it's a simple case of weighing up the pros and cons. Personally I don't think they're destroying the counrty; the banks are doing that.

jay_1978

I agree the banks are really screwing us all, The only problem I have is I have to use these agency's, The work I do which is FLT driving is run by agency's now. I think its not right that I am forced into a job where I could be gone the next week or when work slows down. I have a feeling of security if its a actual company who are employing me and not some agency, You are correct that agency's have pros and cons for some folk but I personally don't want to use them but I have no choice.

arrontdep wrote: »

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/employment/employees/employmentcontractsandconditions/dg_10027514

Essentially agencies are the unwanted middle men but JobCentres aren't in a position to turn down employment opportunities for jobseekers. Also it has advantages for certain people but it's a simple case of weighing up the pros and cons. Personally I don't think they're destroying the counrty; the banks are doing that.

Vader123

Is it everyone elses fault (the banks, the agencies) for not securing a job?

I don't disagree that some agencies have questionable practices. However agencies do perform a vital role for businesses across the country. Certainly my company have been helped out of sticky situations (the last one being the snow last year) to be able to run vital business critical functions.

Vader

DKLS

Just like in all industries there are some great recruitment consultants/agencies and some that really shouldn't be in the business at all.

Learn the rules of the agency game and use them and you should be fine.

inmypocketnottheirs

I think that the OP is making the point of how largely speaking the unskilled/semi skilled labour market is now largely governed by part time contracts through agencies.

I have a good friend of mine who is a highly experienced IT professional who can not find any employment in his specialist field, and has therefore been hunting for any work (NMW) in order to keep food on the table.

He has found that agencies register people and make representations of how much work there is and then hears nothing. He has even attended an induction training (had to buy protective footwear) and was told how short they were of workers. That was six weeks ago and nothing since.

To me, it is a very simple equation. To get this country back on it's feet, we need to have employment. Workers need to have some security of stable income. I have met many people who are agency workers, doing 16-20 hours per week on NMW. How anyone is expected to live like that escapes me.

ploder

I too have had similar experiences with agencies.

I wonder whether refusing a non-existent job will be a basis for sending you on the Coalition's manual labour program?

dickydonkin

He has found that agencies register people and make representations of how much work there is and then hears nothing. He has even attended an induction training (had to buy protective footwear) and was told how short they were of workers. That was six weeks ago and nothing since.

I have had awful experiences with agencies - really awful - but as Vader123 has suggested, they are can be vital to a business - although to people seeking work - a necessary evil. Personally, I hate them - always have and always will. I know that many people will have had positive experiences with agencies and they can be a gateway into a full time contract with the client - but for me - I hate them!

As an aside - re the above quote - no worker should have to pay for safety equipment when they are employed (PPE/safety training etc.)

I have had this out before with people, but if the agency will not provide safety equipment then the client should. It certainly should not come out of the workers own pocket. That is the law.

2791trauts

I registered with an agency back in 2003, never heard anything from them at all until about 2 years later when they called me out the blue, by then I was already in a full time job!

jay_1978

I understand company's using these agency's. I mean they can easily shoot you off when work becomes slack, However Its now impossible for me and many other to have any future, How the hell do you look forward in life if you can't even be sure that you're going to be working next week. If you said to the jobcentre that you didn't want to apply for a certain job because its with a agency, What response do you think they would give ? It would be to sanction your claim and rightfully so, But don't they understand that the chances of you being back on the dole if you work for a agency is very high, In my case the agency just stopped finding work, They would find work for a few month which is what happened in my case then they just stopped calling, This is because they use you for that period of time then get more people on the books and do the same with them and that's how it works. I also hear that the agency's get money from the gvment for getting people signed up, Not sure if that's true or not but it sounds right.

RedSoleShoes

I do think that job adverts need to state very clearly if it is through an agency or direct. Many agencies are getting very sneaky and putting their jobs up as if it is directly from the employer, which is underhand to say the least. Ads on Gumtree are the worst offenders. No websites, no contact numbers but they want your CV. I have started to enquire before I send a CV now as I want to know exactly who I am sending my personal details to.