Agency workers

If you're an agency worker it's important to know how you should be treated by your agency and your employer.

These pages will help you work out what your employment rights are, give you information on contracts you may be asked to sign, and how to deal with any problems that come up with the agency or your employer.

This content applies to…

Agency workers – what you need to know

Information on agency workers, including definitions, what employment rights they have and rights they do not have.

Additional rights for agency workers

Information about agency workers' entitlement to the same basic terms and conditions of employment as people employed directly by the employer, after a 12 week qualifying period.

Can your agency charge you fees

Information on fees that an agency can charge for providing agency workers with services including uniforms, transport and accommodation. Explains how this could affect the national minimum wage and what to do if you are affected.

Pay between assignment contracts

Explains what pay between assignments contracts are, how they affect the rights of agency workers.

Problems with pay between assignment contracts

Describes problems with pay between contracts assignments, including ways an agency may try to avoid paying you and difference in hours from that stated in your contract. Also explains how to raise a grievance.

Your agency stops giving you work

What you can do if your agency stops giving you work for a reason which is unfair, depending on your employment status.

Agency workers and pregnancy

Information about the rights of agency works during pregnancy, including rights to maternity pay and what to do if you are treated unfairly because you are pregnant.

Agency workers and health and safety risk assessments when you're pregnant

Information about health and safety risk assessments for pregnant agency workers. Covers what to do if you are unable to continue an assignment and the employer's obligation to find you alternative work.