So I had an interview last week at an own account place. Full time permanent with good prospects to train up in a specialised sector.
They said it’s the first vacancy they have had in 5 years and it’s due to a retirement.
Good conditions and x1.5 after 40 hours.
Was well chuffed when they offered it to me today but the basic rate is low, much lower than I’m on now for brain dead agency work.
Well as I’m writing this I’m realising that it’s a no brainer factoring in all the benefits you don’t get on agency and for the long term prospects, so I’ll be starting on Monday 
Holiday Pay - you now get on PAYE agency. Sick pay? - Are there any full timer employers who still pay full sick pay rather than SSP or nowt?
Other than that, it’s a straight comparison between hourly rates IF you had no bother getting 40+ hours on agency week in, week out.
“Underemployed” on agency though - and it’s a no-brainer. Take the full-time job. 
How much lower is “much lower” out of interest? 
Seems like you could always go back to agency if it turns out to not be so rosy, so I’d give it a shot… depending on how much lower “much lower” was though
I left an agency for less money; I was on full PAYE at the agency too. The big benefit to me was the regular hours and an employer who actually knew what they were doing. The downside, apart from the money, was the ability to take time off whenever I wanted it.
Time and a half after 40 hours is a sign of a decent employer. Grab with both hands, dont tell any other ■■■■■■ about the vacancy and good luck.
msgyorkie:
Time and a half after 40 hours is a sign of a decent employer. Grab with both hands, dont tell any other [zb] about the vacancy and good luck.
+1.
An agency is a very poor second to a full time job with a firm who is fair with their drivers.
Agencies are not to be trusted.
As for Santa’s ‘work when you want to/take time off’’ comment, yeh maybe in the 80s when agencies first started up in transport, but I have heard that if you try and pick and choose they starve you out.
Too much power these days, in comparison when the driver called the shots on a ‘hire himself out’ basis as it once was.
I always say that one of the questions you should ask at an interview is about staff turnover. If people dont leave it’s because they are happy there, regular recruiters tell you it’s a rubbish place even if it’s a high rate.
Good luck!
Thanks everyone, I’m definitely going to take it and see how it goes.
Forgot to add that they are also 10 mins from home so will save X amount of hours commuting and petrol.
msgyorkie:
Time and a half after 40 hours is a sign of a decent employer. Grab with both hands, dont tell any other [zb] about the vacancy and good luck.
Time and a half after 8 hours is a better sign as it used to be
msgyorkie:
Time and a half after 40 hours is a sign of a decent employer. Grab with both hands, dont tell any other [zb] about the vacancy and good luck.
I agree. Now where’s that at? 
mac12:
msgyorkie:
Time and a half after 40 hours is a sign of a decent employer. Grab with both hands, dont tell any other [zb] about the vacancy and good luck.Time and a half after 8 hours is a better sign as it used to be
I havent had time and a half after 8 hours since a job I had in 1988…then early 90’s it went to time and a half after 40 hours then around early 2000’s it went to this after 50 hours bollox.
Im lucky im working for own account work and back to time and a half after 40 hours so I will settle for that!
I must be in the minority then, my gaffer pays time and a half after 8 hours daily.
Sapper
Santa:
I left an agency for less money; I was on full PAYE at the agency too. The big benefit to me was the regular hours and an employer who actually knew what they were doing. The downside, apart from the money, was the ability to take time off whenever I wanted it.
Same here although for me it was more the fact it was a 10am-10pm shift which was great and even better just 10 minutes from my house pretty much the only job I’ve had in the last 30 years not involving a 30-45 minute each way journey.
Conor:
Santa:
I left an agency for less money; I was on full PAYE at the agency too. The big benefit to me was the regular hours and an employer who actually knew what they were doing. The downside, apart from the money, was the ability to take time off whenever I wanted it.Same here although for me it was more the fact it was a 10am-10pm shift which was great and even better just 10 minutes from my house pretty much the only job I’ve had in the last 30 years not involving a 30-45 minute each way journey.
Hope you were not working 5 shifts of that… 
It’s a “One Man’s Meat” argument there of course.
Being used to having to commute to at least the “town next door” to go to work - I prefer less shifts per week, but longer shifts.
4x12 would be ideal with OT after 40 hours.
I’m not interested in these Monday-Friday 12 hour affairs that the firm argues “is only 5x9.5 because when you get used to the job, and all the corners you can cut - you’ll be able to do the 60 hours of work in the 47.5 hours we salary you for… - Right?” 