Anyone use agency staff?

[ypftrading]

Just wondered if anyone uses agencies when they are short staffed? I may need a couple of forklift drivers on a temporary basis a couple of days a week at short notice and wondered what an agency would charge? any info would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance

Patrick

 

[Consistency]

I hate agencies. I have tried to use them before, up themselves, unrealistic and accept no responsibility if there agency worker does wrong.

A friend I know very very well used an agency bloke to cover a job. While he was there he used the credit card that was left in a drawer of the manageress. He brought some garden equipment for himself.!!

The manageress reported this through to her boss, my friend explained that it was an agency worker but that made matters worse it seemed. My friend lost the contract, was still billed, had to repay the money on for her credit card bill and did not get paid for the job, and still had to pay the agency fees.

The agency accepted no reponsibility for the matter.

We received a call from an agency recently, had a few and I raised this case and asked what they would do and they tried to shy away from it but in a nutshell it still seems to be the same.

There are times we could really really have done with agencies to do the odd jobs and to work on an irregular basis but it just is not a risk that I feel comfortable with.

 

[SarahDinnage]

Hi Patrick

I run an agency and as a guide most agencies will charge a 1.50-1.57 margin so if you take the hourly rate and x it by the margin it will give you the charge rate.

The charge rate covers all of the NI, Holiday, Admin and covers the profit on the agency too as sadly it can't be done for free.

So: at £7ph paid to the candidate you would pay 7 x 1.57 = £10.99 p/h

Hope that helps.

Sarah

 

[IANL]

I used to work for an agency years ago and have used agencies in the past. I have used a driving agaency and some of the drivers they sent were a little iffy to say the least, especially for a client facing role.

I had one that drove a vehicle up to Manchester. ( he didn't know we had vehicle tracking installed)

They are OK but be precise on the skills you want and if they aren't right tell the agency and they will recall him.

I have had to that on some occasions.

 

[HFE Signs]

We used an agency once and got sent some right muppets, so we decided never again, we still get phone calls from them years later.... To be fair I'm sure some agencies are very good but for me its something I wouldn't do again...and I guess a lot depends on the level of recruit you're looking for. If you're just after arms and legs workers you'll be amazed at some of the people you get and their attitudes J

 

[Richie N]

If you give a precise job spec to the agency then they should be able to match it. Tell them you don't want anyone other than what you specify (skills wise of course).

Some agencies in their terms do allow for you to inform them within a certain time if you are not happy and they will replace the temp immediately but depends on the agency and terms (usually within the first few hours).

You have to remember that the staff are people, not products or something that comes off a production line, so like any employees there are good and bad out there.
I don't think you can blame the agency entirely if things go wrong.

 

[BenForest]

Patrick,

Based on what the agency person said about mark up you will probably be looking at something like £8 per hour x 1.5 for a typical forklift truck driver. I have used agency staff and did agency work myself for a while and it can be hit and miss but right now with few jobs out there the standard of the typical agency worker has gone up considerably. Many I came across had been in decent jobs with decent skills and work ethic, they were just unfortunate casualties of the recession. All being well you should find some decent people and you'll soon know the good ones and the not so good ones by name and most agencies will do their best to fix you up with your preferred people on a regular basis.

The advice about being specific on training is good and should shake some of the less good out.

Ben

 

[Sue Gott]

Try Best Connection. There rates are really competitive.

 

[SavvySolutions]

I can thoroughly recommend a recruitment agency called Agora Recruitment, based in Spalding (but they have the ability to provide for most areas within the vicinity). Just put a quick call in, and they estimated around £9 per hour, they are good at working on short notice because they have a lot of workers on their books, so there are always people free to go to different places at the last minute, as is often the case in their industry.

Their website is at: labourprovider.com

Hope your find what you're looking for

 

[Team Leith Training]

There are a few good industrial agencies in northampton, i think if you call them and tell them what you want, they will sort it.
BlueArrow is used by a lot of 3PL's

 

[Additional Resources GY]

I personally think agencys forget about the client and their needs after they have got through the door with a order for a placement,

I have worked for agencies in the past where they expect at least a 100 sales calls a day then follow up the next day to get a placement for the next week and personally i dont think that works,

I am forever getting sales calls from Thompson Yell etc and after a while they just get your back up, So you have got to see it from the clients point of view,

I like to call introduce myself and my company then email mid week and call on the friday,

Most companies know when they have got people off and need cover which i normally say is ok give our company a chance to cover a holiday period and allow us to have the dates and we will place someone for then,

That way it give us time to find a candidate suitable for the job and you have a relationship with.

I have know agencies to throw in Students because they have a driving Licence for Multi Drop Van work, when i know it takes an experianced driver to be able to do this kind of work,

I would rather turn the work down or go out and do it myself if i can, as i have done over 10 years in Multi Drop work.

I think now most agencies look for profit where with me i offer a totally diffrent scheme of pay and would rather take a cut out of my mark up to gain the experianced drivers on my books.

Please feel free to contact me to get to know more

 

[H22SolutionsLtd]

Try Thorn Baker, good experience with them and you wont be charged the earth.

 

[Consistency]

What are the laws with this when someone finds someone who works for an agency and is good and then that employee wants to work properly for the company instead of the agency.

From my understanding, there is often a clause built in to sayif you take them on in fully you as an employer have to pay a penalty as a compensation to the agency for a percentage of what that employees full years wages would be?

I can see agencies need to protect their business so I do understand it but it is not that good for the employee.

 

[Additional Resources GY]

Consistency,

I run a franchise of Additonal Resources, and i agree with you that agencies now do not seem to understand the current economical climate Businesses in the UK and all over are facing, Agencies should be helping companies and relise their needs and problems they are facing at the moment but i feel agencies as a whole are using this against the businesses in some ways,

To answer some of your questions,

If a temp goes in and both the company and temp like what they are doing the Agency will either charge a temp to perm which is no up front fee but the temp has to be placed there for at least 13 weeks.

Or a Perm placement fee which the temp goes straight on to the employers books and a fee which is a % of the salary goes to the agency.


I have tried to change this i normally specialize in driving which has been hit really hard with the fuel vat etc and i have come up with the conclusion of this below:



Only have a minimum charge of 4 Hours - Standard Charge normally 8 by Agencies

10 Week Temp to Perm - Standard is Normally 13 weeks by Agencies

Perm Placement -Let the candidate do a 2 week trial with the company at min wage this insures the commitment the candidate has .
Payment arrangements would be: Pay Rate + Holiday & NI + Mark Up = Charge Rate for 2 weeks. The mark up for the 2 weeks to be deducted off fee when going to Perm. - Standard is normally placement made straight away and then refunded at a later date if the temp leaves or the employer terminates contract

I am getting companies saying agencies are too expensive so i am listerning and trying to bring it more in to play with what the client needs are, by dong the above.

Does that help you in any way if i can help more message me and i will come back to you as soon as i can.

 

[rooke]

What are the laws with this when someone finds someone who works for an agency and is good and then that employee wants to work properly for the company instead of the agency.

From my understanding, there is often a clause built in to sayif you take them on in fully you as an employer have to pay a penalty as a compensation to the agency for a percentage of what that employees full years wages would be?
منتديات عطر الحكي - عطر الحكي - خلفيات بلاك بيري - خلفيات اي فون
I can see agencies need to protect their business so I do understand it but it is not that good for the employee.

Thank you.

 

[gregs2769]

Sent you a PM