What is a reasonable period of time for agency pay?

charleneann09

I work for an agency and my timesheet didn't get signed off on the last day of term. The agency told me it would be sorted. Well it turns out it hasn't been sorted. I asked if I was still getting paid and the response was we have been trying to contact the employer but there is noone there, there isn't a lot else we can do. I fully expect them to pay me as I worked the hours but I am aware an agency is allowed to withhold your pay for a reasonable period of time in order to prove I've worked those hours? Does anyone know how long a reasonable period of time is?
I have a mortgage to pay next Wednesday and need this money.

DullGreyGuy

Normally its your responsibility to ensure your timesheet is signed, or at least everywhere I have been has. 

Unfortunately ACAS say they can only delay a "reasonable amount of time" to validate your hours worked... if legislation is for "reasonable" then the fact that the business has shut down for Xmas probably makes it reasonable to wait for it to be reopened to confirm but the issue with such terms is that they are woolly and open to interpretation.  

Undervalued

DullGreyGuy said:

Normally its your responsibility to ensure your timesheet is signed, or at least everywhere I have been has. 

Unfortunately ACAS say they can only delay a "reasonable amount of time" to validate your hours worked... if legislation is for "reasonable" then the fact that the business has shut down for Xmas probably makes it reasonable to wait for it to be reopened to confirm but the issue with such terms is that they are woolly and open to interpretation.  

Indeed.

Arguing about what is reasonable has kept lawyers in fat fees for generations!

Even if it wasn't judged to be reasonable what useful redress do you have? There is only one working day left between now and Wednesday. Beyond asking nicely there is nothing you can do to force immediate payment.

Marcon

charleneann09 said:

I work for an agency and my timesheet didn't get signed off on the last day of term. The agency told me it would be sorted. Well it turns out it hasn't been sorted. I asked if I was still getting paid and the response was we have been trying to contact the employer but there is noone there, there isn't a lot else we can do. I fully expect them to pay me as I worked the hours but I am aware an agency is allowed to withhold your pay for a reasonable period of time in order to prove I've worked those hours? Does anyone know how long a reasonable period of time is?
I have a mortgage to pay next Wednesday and need this money.

Unfortunately there's bound to be a clause in your terms of engagement covering just this situation i.e. if a signed timesheet isn't received by a certain time, then payment can't be made until the signed timesheet is received.

It's your responsibility to ensure it is signed in a timely manner, but the last day of term was probably so chaotic that could be wishful thinking. Do you have any contact details for anyone at the school who would be authorised to sign it?

Given that tomorrow is Christmas Eve and banks are then shut until Wednesday, I don't think anything can happen until the day your mortgage payment is due - and probably not until after then. Probably worth either asking your bank for a temporary overdraft and/or letting your lender know exactly what the issue is and agreeing a new date for the December payment.