13-06-2008
Equal treatment for agency workers - Bad news for Gloucestershire businesses
In response to a recent EU deal hammered out in Luxembourg, agency workers in Britain will receive equal treatment with direct workers (in terms of basic working and employment conditions such as pay and benefits) after 12 weeks’ employment.
The implications of Europe’s endorsement of the Government’s recent agreement with the CBI and TUC are vast, not only for the 170 or so employment agencies within Gloucestershire, but also for the 54% of businesses within the county who have previously enjoyed the flexible benefits that agency workers bring to a business. (Please note these statistics are based on BPE’s information acquired last year)
Darren Sherborne, Partner and Head of Employment at Cheltenham based BPE Solicitors said, “This is not good new for employers and it is certainly bad news for employment agencies and businesses in the county who will now have to assess the potential implications of these changes on their profit margins.”
Andrea Bateman, Darren’s colleague and Partner at BPE went on to add, “What was previously a very good, symbiotic relationship between agencies and clients who accept and manage the peaks and troughs of modern day business without making redundancies is now threatened. This is, without doubt a hammer blow to Gloucestershire employers whose previous ability and flexibility to manage such situations will be severely compromised by what is, it would appear, further unnecessary legislation.”
Mrs Bateman added, “What seems to have been forgotten is the fact that many agency workers choose to work in this way. The flexibility it affords for them is exactly what they want and need in relation to their own personal circumstances and preferences. In some cases, the pay is actually better for the agency staff than it is for permanent workers. This is already a fairly regulated industry with numerous procedures and checks in place to help prevent the abuse of agency workers. As such, one has to question whether this latest legislation is a step too far?”
Darren and Andrea, both partners in the Employment Team at BPE solicitors in Cheltenham can be contacted on 01242 248256 and 01242 248237 respectively.
The implications of Europe’s endorsement of the Government’s recent agreement with the CBI and TUC are vast, not only for the 170 or so employment agencies within Gloucestershire, but also for the 54% of businesses within the county who have previously enjoyed the flexible benefits that agency workers bring to a business. (Please note these statistics are based on BPE’s information acquired last year)
Darren Sherborne, Partner and Head of Employment at Cheltenham based BPE Solicitors said, “This is not good new for employers and it is certainly bad news for employment agencies and businesses in the county who will now have to assess the potential implications of these changes on their profit margins.”
Andrea Bateman, Darren’s colleague and Partner at BPE went on to add, “What was previously a very good, symbiotic relationship between agencies and clients who accept and manage the peaks and troughs of modern day business without making redundancies is now threatened. This is, without doubt a hammer blow to Gloucestershire employers whose previous ability and flexibility to manage such situations will be severely compromised by what is, it would appear, further unnecessary legislation.”
Mrs Bateman added, “What seems to have been forgotten is the fact that many agency workers choose to work in this way. The flexibility it affords for them is exactly what they want and need in relation to their own personal circumstances and preferences. In some cases, the pay is actually better for the agency staff than it is for permanent workers. This is already a fairly regulated industry with numerous procedures and checks in place to help prevent the abuse of agency workers. As such, one has to question whether this latest legislation is a step too far?”
Darren and Andrea, both partners in the Employment Team at BPE solicitors in Cheltenham can be contacted on 01242 248256 and 01242 248237 respectively.
