Many workers are employed on a temporary basis through agencies rather than employed directly and on a permanent basis. While the flexibility of temporary work can be appealing to many people, agency workers typically enjoy less substantial employment rights than equivalent permanent employees. Although you may work as hard and contribute as much as a permanent employee employers often take advantage of the temporary status of agency employees.

Agency workers should know that they do have rights and that they are improving. Under the Agency Workers Regulations 2010 temporary workers who have been placed into a role by a temporary work agency are entitled to certain rights from day one and acquire a large proportion of the rights enjoyed by permanent employees after 12 weeks of continuous service with the same employer. 

Despite these rights, many agency workers are treated substantially less favourably than permanent employees and are denied benefits ranging from access to the canteen through to pay, duration of working hours, night work, rest periods, rest breaks and annual leave. Frequently this is due to a lack of awareness on the part of both employers and employees of the rights agency workers have. See our factsheet for more detailed information on your rights as an agency worker.

If you feel that your employer or the agency that has placed you is short changing you in terms of your rights, do get in touch with one of our employment solicitors to discuss your situation. We can assist you in clarifying what your rights are in your situation and if necessary work with you to ensure that your rights are addressed appropriately.

Contact us today to talk about your Agency Worker issues with one of our specialist employment solicitors

Please call 0800 916 9060 or email enquiries@rjwslatergordon.co.uk. Our Agency Worker employment solicitors operate from offices across the country and can offer immediate and accessible representation anywhere in the UK.