agency finally furloughed me, some light for others?

joeee99

Hi so from previous posts you may know I was in the same boat thousands of others are, I tried every avenue of reasoning with the agency and was fobbed off with every excuse going until they finally gave me the answer. Their main issue being apprentice levy and holiday pay. Today I am happy to say that they have finally granted furlough. 

They are a large agency with around £80million turnover and I just want to let others know how I managed it. This may be frowned upon but at the end of the day people’s livlihoods are at stake. I managed to find  15 others working for the same agency and convinced the agency that people are going to remember how they were treated whilst this situation is going on. The repeat business of us all working full time hours for them over the years already gone and the years to come is worth an awful lot more than what they will lose in the previously mentioned fee’s. My advice would be don’t give up, it took 8 weeks of constant back and forths with them, find others in the same boat as you, make them listen!! 

SXX

joeee99 said:

Hi so from previous posts you may know I was in the same boat thousands of others are, I tried every avenue of reasoning with the agency and was fobbed off with every excuse going until they finally gave me the answer. Their main issue being apprentice levy and holiday pay. Today I am happy to say that they have finally granted furlough. 

They are a large agency with around £80million turnover and I just want to let others know how I managed it. This may be frowned upon but at the end of the day people’s livlihoods are at stake. I managed to find  15 others working for the same agency and convinced the agency that people are going to remember how they were treated whilst this situation is going on. The repeat business of us all working full time hours for them over the years already gone and the years to come is worth an awful lot more than what they will lose in the previously mentioned fee’s. My advice would be don’t give up, it took 8 weeks of constant back and forths with them, find others in the same boat as you, make them listen!! 

Well done and I am really, really pleased that you persevered and did not give up.  There is nothing to 'frown upon' as your points are extremely valid.  Agencies do not realise that temps can influence their relationships with their clients in that we usually build really strong relationships with clients whilst we are working for them and we can endorse (or not) the agency.    How did you find 15 others working for the same agency?   I am still battling with agency - so can totally relate to the constant fobbing off, and the constant backs and forths with them and manipulating the guidance so that it fits with their reason for refusal.  So Well done again for not giving into the shady practices of agencies.  It is truly shocking how they are behaving.  My agency is small so will not have to pay apprentice levy.  I believe there is going to be further guidance on agency worker holiday pay this week.   I believe someone has started a group on linkedin for try and break the wall of silence from umbrella companies who are just as guilty of agencies for their shameful behaviour.  I appreciate that no business - large or small - wants to be out of pocket - but that does not mean you should  resort to fobbing off.  Thank you for sharing and frankly you sound way too intelligent to be temping for your agency.