3 times over the past 2 days I’ve asked the girl at my agency for either an e-mail or text of my hourly rates at the firm they are sending me to.
I will regularly be working weekends and 12+ hour days so want the following
Base rate
Saturday rate
Sunday rate
Overtime rate and threshold
Holiday pay inclusive or exclusive
3 times she has said yeah I’ll do that now and I receive nothing.
Well let’s see what she says tomorrow morning on my first shift (Fri/Sat/Sun booked) with the firm when I ring and ask her again in front of the gaffer and tell her unless I have this simple request answered I will be walking (and I will, permanent job lined up on Monday)
This firm cannot keep/recruit drivers for love nor money incidentally so can’t see the gaffer being very happy.
They showed me some figures last week when I signed up with them. They looked acceptable but I was not given any written confirmation.
All I am asking for is a ‘2nd copy’. A reasonable request. We all know how the rate told at interview is suddenly forgotten once it comes to your first payslip.
I am turning up because it’s only down the road from me and I’m irked at being ignored and treated like I was born yesterday. Humiliating a recruitment consultant in front of one of her clients is just too good an opportunity to pass up.
SuperMultiBlue:
They showed me some figures last week when I signed up with them. They looked acceptable but I was not given any written confirmation.
All I am asking for is a ‘2nd copy’. A reasonable request. We all know how the rate told at interview is suddenly forgotten once it comes to your first payslip.
I am turning up because it’s only down the road from me and I’m irked at being ignored and treated like I was born yesterday. Humiliating a recruitment consultant in front of one of her clients is just too good an opportunity to pass up.
Definitely don’t work for them without rates in writing. They WILL take the ■■■■ if you let them!
Whilst a recession rages locally, you’ll believe all the lies because there’s not much other choice.
Once local shortages start to appear - you can do what you are doing. Take a job - give them a chance to “go straight” in front of those behind you - and show them up for what they are if they don’t take the hint here.
I found from my own experience that the agencies in the centre of town tended to ■■■■ me about the most. Lies about the rates, lies about “You’ve been asked for by name” (everyone else said “no” more like…), never given much notice, sometimes as much as one whole hour! (only long-standing drivers get more than that apparently…) and on a monday morning - always being told it’s “work for the week” so you turn down all the other offers from other agencies you might get, and then tuesday morning… “Sorry bud, they only wanted you yesterday… I had to keep you available though, you understand?”
None of them ever emailed me with rates - except the agency I eventually went “exclusive” for, which was SMS/Mainstream. Credit where credit is due. Holiday pay, fair hourly rates, right-through rates, and no quibble weekly pay. I only left them to take up a full time job offer at one of the client yards of the same agency, but I consider that I left on good terms.
Winseer:
Whilst a recession rages locally, you’ll believe all the lies because there’s not much other choice.
Once local shortages start to appear - you can do what you are doing. Take a job - give them a chance to “go straight” in front of those behind you - and show them up for what they are if they don’t take the hint here.
I found from my own experience that the agencies in the centre of town tended to ■■■■ me about the most. Lies about the rates, lies about “You’ve been asked for by name” (everyone else said “no” more like…), never given much notice, sometimes as much as one whole hour! (only long-standing drivers get more than that apparently…) and on a monday morning - always being told it’s “work for the week” so you turn down all the other offers from other agencies you might get, and then tuesday morning… “Sorry bud, they only wanted you yesterday… I had to keep you available though, you understand?”
None of them ever emailed me with rates - except the agency I eventually went “exclusive” for, which was SMS/Mainstream. Credit where credit is due. Holiday pay, fair hourly rates, right-through rates, and no quibble weekly pay. I only left them to take up a full time job offer at one of the client yards of the same agency, but I consider that I left on good terms.
I did 3 days last week for this agency at another firm while I waiting for this job to start. £9,.50p/h confirmed over the phone. I agree, conversation ends with her saying I will text you the details over. 5 minutes later I get the firm’s address, don’t forget hi-viz, digi tacho blah blah blah, £9p/h.
Corrected her by replying ‘you said £9.50 on the phone’, ‘oh yeah sorry it is, I was thinking about another client’. 5 minutes later this was!
I’ve been paid for these 3 days today going off bank account but guess who hasn’t received a payslip confirming how much my hourly rate was for these 3 days.
When you’re offered a job the agency must tell you:
your start date
how long the contract is likely to last
the type of work
about any expenses you may have to pay
the location
your hours
about any health and safety risks
about any experience, training or qualifications needed for the role
But in th real world they will do none of the above. They should, but they don’t. Try reminding them of these points if you don’t get any joy out of them.
When you’re offered a job the agency must tell you:
your start date
how long the contract is likely to last
the type of work
about any expenses you may have to pay
the location
your hours
about any health and safety risks
about any experience, training or qualifications needed for the role
But in th real world they will do none of the above. They should, but they don’t. Try reminding them of these points if you don’t get any joy out of them.
where is that ‘law’ how would an agency know about any expenses in advance most companies don’t even know where they will send the driver until they arrive and there is every chance that will change.
again your hours?
how long the contract will last?
to be fair I text all my guys the rates in advance as its what I expected when driving but other than the location and the type of work (bearing in mind most agencys have zero clue of the different types of work in any detail)
Back from first and last shift with the firm I was sent.
Arrived in the morning, told the boss, I’m here but I won’t be starting work for you until I get written confirmation off my agency of the pay rates. Boss was cool with it. He got on the phone straight away and said send the information over.
I’m happy with this. Started my day and an hour later I finally get the e-mail. £9.71 flat rate Mon-Sun. No enhanced weekend rate as I was promised in interview.
Overtime rate and threshold which was time and a half over 40 hours at interview suddenly went to ‘I will need to get this confirmed with company’
The pure arrogance of these ■■■■■■■ agencies astounds me. Gets back to the office anyway. The O Licence holder is there this time. Tell him I won’t be back in tomorrow and why and he’s fuming. Starts typing an e-mail to the agency as I stood there. (It was 8pm)
Winseer:
Whilst a recession rages locally, you’ll believe all the lies because there’s not much other choice.
Once local shortages start to appear - you can do what you are doing. Take a job - give them a chance to “go straight” in front of those behind you - and show them up for what they are if they don’t take the hint here.
I found from my own experience that the agencies in the centre of town tended to ■■■■ me about the most. Lies about the rates, lies about “You’ve been asked for by name” (everyone else said “no” more like…), never given much notice, sometimes as much as one whole hour! (only long-standing drivers get more than that apparently…) and on a monday morning - always being told it’s “work for the week” so you turn down all the other offers from other agencies you might get, and then tuesday morning… “Sorry bud, they only wanted you yesterday… I had to keep you available though, you understand?”
None of them ever emailed me with rates - except the agency I eventually went “exclusive” for, which was SMS/Mainstream. Credit where credit is due. Holiday pay, fair hourly rates, right-through rates, and no quibble weekly pay. I only left them to take up a full time job offer at one of the client yards of the same agency, but I consider that I left on good terms.
Yet to read a bad word on here about SMS, I was with them and agree with everything you said. Only left for perm job as well, but would recommend them.
Unless u have been sacked by an agency, you’re not trying hard enough!
I was grateful when one sacked me when I refused to do overtime unless they told me the rates first. Now I don’t have to put up with them calling me and trying to feed me a pack of lies!
war1974:
where is that ‘law’ how would an agency know about any expenses in advance most companies don’t even know where they will send the driver until they arrive and there is every chance that will change.
again your hours?
how long the contract will last?
to be fair I text all my guys the rates in advance as its what I expected when driving but other than the location and the type of work (bearing in mind most agencys have zero clue of the different types of work in any detail)
