Best way to hire on a temporary basis?

[RedmenWelshman]

Hi, hope all's well. I work in the family business and it tends to peak from September to December where we find ourselves stretched and working extreme hours. Hoping for an even busier time this year.
Just wondering if we wanted to hire one or two people for that time of year, what would be the best way around it? Self-employed or employed etc. Any suggestions are welcomed.

Many thanks!

 

[Employment Law Clinic]

Employed.


You can't employ/hire someone on a self-employed basis, at least not if you want control of who attends to do the work.


Karl Limpert

 

[pentel]

We would use a temp agency for this. It can be a little more expensive than employing someone but the flexibility more than makes up for it.

 

[IanSuth]

We would use a temp agency for this. It can be a little more expensive than employing someone but the flexibility more than makes up for it.

Just watch the 12 week rule - as soon as an individual temp worker hits 12 weeks they are entitled to the same pay and conditions as a permanent worker doing the same job. Sep-Dec is over that Threshold

 

[pentel]

Just watch the 12 week rule - as soon as an individual temp worker hits 12 weeks they are entitled to the same pay and conditions as a permanent worker doing the same job. Sep-Dec is over that Threshold

This is correct, is rarely in issue in a lot of cases.

Split a process so that the temp does the fetching and carrying and easily taught simple parts of a process while keeping your skilled person doing the more complicated part of the job.

 

[IanSuth]

This is correct, is rarely in issue in a lot of cases.

Split a process so that the temp does the fetching and carrying and easily taught simple parts of a process while keeping your skilled person doing the more complicated part of the job.

As an ex recruitment consultant who did mainly perm BUT where the sister company was 95% warehouse/industrial temps I can tell you they had lots of run ins with workers claiming parity etc, I know many agencies like to say it isnt an issue BUT it is also the end user company who are liable - so it really does matter for people to know.

For instance if your staff are on 33 days hols (25 + BH) and you have temps they are likely on 28 BUT as soon as they start their 13th week they have to start accruing for 33 days. Even ignoring the base rate per hour

That means changing from an accrual rate of 12.06% to 14.5% (5.6wks / 46.4 to 6.6wks/45.4)

so a £10ph temp goes from
10 + 12.06% + 3% (pension) + 13.8% (Employers NI i am ignoring freepay for ease) so £13.13

to

10 + 14.5 + 3 + 13.8 = £13.42

That is an extra 29p per hour before an agency margin is added and they can take more time off - which if you are running up to Xmas may matter in scheduling. In addition be careful how any xmas bonuses are listed as being given, if you don't word it correctly you can have temps with >12 weeks service due some.

Always plan for the worst and hope for the best rather than being caught out assuming people don't know the law

Also useful to know if you want to make a temp perm you are allowed to request an extended period of hire at the same rate instead of a conversion fee - that is also a legal right

 

[RedmenWelshman]

Thanks for your replies! Will get in touch with a local temp agency! Will need one or two for the Christmas period but will be handy for other parts of the year too!

Cheers!

 

[IanSuth]

If you go here https://www.rec.uk.com/jobseekers/m...ype=all&sortBy=A - Z&auditedOnly=false&page=1

You can search for agencies that are members of the main industry body so should know the law and be ethical