The Government has now published its long awaited response to the first consultation on the Agency Workers Directive and the draft regulations they intend to introduce. On first glance it appears that the draft Regulations are far wider than the EU Directive, giving rise to the widely expressed fear that the government is going to […]
Read moreAmongst a series of other proposals to delay new laws, the government has announced that it intends to delay implementation of the Agency Workers Directive in the UK until late 2011. However it is understood that the legislation will be laid before Parliament as soon as possible after conclusion of a 2nd consultation which is […]
Read moreThe government has just announced a telephone helpline for workers called the Pay and Work Rights Helpline. The helpline is set up to give all workers including agency workers easy access to information about their rights. In the accompanying announcements from both government and the REC it is referred to as a “vulnerable workers helpline” […]
Read moreWill and Holly were both sales consultants employed by an agency. In April, they went on holiday together to Goa. Unfortunately, 4 days into their 2 week holiday they both caught a nasty tummy bug and were laid up for the remaining 9 days of the holiday. Upon their return they claimed they were entitled […]
Read moreAs the HR Manager may say – “unfortunately, as you’re aware, the company has to be making cut backs. As you’re the newest member of staff we have decided to make you redundant – last in, first out”.What is wrong with that? Using this approach to redundancies can often appear to be the easiest option. However […]
Read moreWith job and pay cuts leading to employee unrest, a key topic of conversation in the TUC Conference last week was that of strike action. As this threat increases, you could be contacted to supply replacements as your clients try to complete projects and keep the money coming in. Tempting though it may be to use […]
Read moreWith the Conservatives warning against possible cost to the economy rising to some £40bn over a 10 year period and widespread concern of government overkill (“gold plating”), the Agency Workers Directive has already proved to be the most controversial piece of proposed legislation affecting the recruitment supply industry thus far. Now that the government’s actual […]
Read moreWhat the above two articles demonstrate is how easy it is for facts to be misreported and also how important it is that trade representation is accurate and protective of members interests. The press is always keen to whip up a story but it is incumbent upon those acting for the industry to take a […]
Read moreIn an article published in Personnel Today on 4th September the HR Manager of a large hirer of agency workers indicated that once the Directive is in place they intend to hire temps direct from their own internal bank of temp workers. They made it clear that this was not an off the cuff observation but […]
Read moreSome of you may have read an article from Recruiter.co.uk sent under its email alert scheme headed “Agency workers directive implementation delayed until 2010”, which stated that Gordon Brown has announced that the Directive will be included in the “next parliamentary session”, and therefore cannot be implemented until April 2010. Kevin Greene of the REC […]
Read moreThe case of a limited company contractor who has been able to successfully assert that he was an employee of his client has recently been raising eyebrows across the industry. In Asltrom v Tilson, Mr Tilson, who operated through his own limited company which was acting as a subcontractor, whose principal was being supplied to […]
Read moreFrom 1st October 2009, the national minimum wage will increase from £5.73 to £5.80 per hour. A recruiter or umbrella company whose rates fall below such levels will be advised to address these matters with clients, unless there is already clear provision within contracts for an increase in rates to account for such costs. Payment […]
Read moreThe position regarding holiday pay for those on long term sick leave has recently been clarified by the European courts. The UK courts had suggested that workers on long terms sick leave should not accrue holiday entitlement, on the basis that they are already on leave. However this has been overruled by the European Court […]
Read moreAs has been seen in the recent case involving the massive fines imposed on a consortium of recruitment businesses called ” the Construction Industry Forum”, the penalties for engaging in anti competitive behaviour can be severe . Apart from fines, they can extend in certain circumstances to the disqualification of directors. So what effect could this have on your business? Most of […]
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