For Candidates
Under the Agency Workers Regulations agency workers have two sets of entitlements: one, from the start of their assignment (referred to as Day 1 rights); and a secondly, after they have completed a qualifying period of 12 working weeks (referred to as Post 12 weeks).
Day 1:
From the 1st October 2011, in any temporary work assignment where you are working through an agency for an end hirer, you will be given the same access to facilities and internal vacancies as a directly employed member of staff doing the same or broadly similar job as you. These are usually on site facilities, these can include but are not limited to the following:
- Access to internal vacancies
- Creche
- Prayer Room
- Room
- Car Parking
- Canteen
- Local pick-up/drop-off
- Your line manager will be able to advise you exactly which facilities apply, as this will vary from business to business.
Post 12 weeks:
After a 12 week period from the 1st October 2011 agency workers will be entitled to pay equal to a directly employed worker doing the same or broadly similar job. In many cases the rate you start on will encompass these entitlements from Day 1. Entitlements under “pay” may include but are not limited to the following:
Hourly/daily rate
Payment for shift/overtime/night work
Bonus or commission payments related to individual performance
Annual leave entitlement
Vouchers that have a monetary value (e.g. eye care, luncheon vouchers)
Working time (e.g. an employee can work a maximum of 35 hours per week)
Rest breaks
Paid time off for anti-natal appointments for pregnant workers
These rights apply to all agency workers employed under PAYE and Ltd company contracts. The only exception is for workers who are genuinely in business on their own account. Entitlements will be assessed and communicated on a case by case basis.
Out of scope:
Certain core contractual benefits are excluded from the AWR. These include:
- Redundancy pay
- Pension
- Bonus related to company performance
- Company sick, maternity and paternity pay
- Benefits in kind that are not related to pay (e.g. reduced gym membership, private healthcare, discounted
- goods from a company shop)
- Vouchers that are part of a salary sacrifice scheme (e.g. childcare vouchers)
Candidate FAQs
Q: If I am already working on an assignment through Firmin Recruit will I automatically be entitled to equal pay?
A: The regulations are not retrospective and will only apply as of the 1st October 2011, therefore the earliest anybody will be eligible for Week 12 rights is late December. However, you will be entitled to equal access to facilities and internal vacancies from Day 1 of your assignment.
Q: How and where do I find out what access to facilities I am entitled to?
A: If you are already working on an assignment then speak to your line manager, they should be able to inform you of your entitlements. If you are not currently working on a temporary assignment then ask your line manager when you start your next assignment.
Q: How and when do I start receiving equal pay?
A: If you are entitled to equal pay under the AWR Firmin Recruit will automatically amend your pay rate(s) after you have been working in the same role with the same business for twelve continuous weeks. Any of the following absences will not count towards this twelve week period:
A break of less than 6 weeks where the agency worker returns to the same role with the same hirer.
Any break which is for the purpose of taking leave to which the agency worker is entitled, including annual leave.
A break of up to 28 weeks because the agency worker is incapable of work because of sickness of injury.
A break caused by strike, lock out or other industrial action at the hirer’s establishment.
A break up to 28 calendar weeks to allow the agency worker to perform jury service.
Q: What if I have worked through different agencies at the same hirer?
A: Your twelve week period will continue to be accrued regardless of which agency you worked through, providing you work in the same role for the same hirer. When you register with an agency you should make sure you give them your up to date work history, specifically including any assignments you have already completed at a hirer they place you with.
Q: What if I get a job with a new hirer, but I was previously doing the same role for another hirer?
A: You will only clock up a 12 week period based on which hirer you’re working for.
