Agency Workers Regulations: Are YOU ready?

With 1.3 million agency workers on assignment in the UK, the new Agency Workers Regulations (AWR) – which come into effect on 1 October 2011 – could affect the way in which agency staff are engaged.

The Regulations are designed to give agency workers a right to the same basic working and employment conditions as would have applied had they been hired direct, once they have been on assignment for 12 weeks. If you use the services of agency workers for your own staffing needs, or if you yourself are an agency worker, you will need to know the facts.

What is AWR and how will it affect me?

Here are some facts on AWR – be prepared and take action.

• From 1 October 2011, once they have been in an assignment for 12 weeks agency workers’ relevant terms and conditions of employment must be no less favourable than they would have been if hired direct to do the same job
• Breaks between assignments of more than six weeks will usually reset the qualification ‘clock’
• The Regulations apply to working time, holidays and some types of pay
• The Regulations exclude sick pay, maternity/paternity pay, redundancy, notice pay, payments related to pension entitlement, and bonuses not based on individual performance
• Agency workers may have rights to access ‘collective facilities’ from day one of their assignment, which may include such amenities as a staff canteen, transport or a crèche
• Agency workers may also have the right to be informed of any relevant internal opportunities for permanent employment

Want to know more? Click here download a fact sheet on AWR.