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- Workplace Snippets - November 2011
- Agency Workers Regulations - are you up to speed with the changes?
Agency Workers Regulations - are you up to speed with the changes?
From 1 October 2011, temporary workers have been entitled to the same employment and working conditions as comparable permanent staff after 12 weeks of service. This has meant a fundamental shake-up in the engagement of temporary staff, with wide-ranging repercussions for both employers and employment agencies.
It is now important for employers to ensure that any temporary workers are treated equally to comparable permanent employees with regard to pay, working time, breaks, annual leave, holiday pay and overtime rates.
While temporary workers now enjoy many of the same rights as their permanent counterparts, the new regulations do not mean that agency workers have de facto employee status. As a result, they do not have the right to claim for unfair dismissal, minimum notice or redundancy pay.
Acas is offering agency workers guidance and training to help hirers who book agency workers through a temporary worker agency (TWA) familiarise themselves with this new legislation. Acas are running a series of regional events from November 2011 to explain the changes and enable employers to address their own particular issues in a safe and confidential environment.
Find out more about Acas training and business solutions.
