It is almost six months since the UK Government's new Agency Worker Regulations came into force on October 1 2011 and so far the signs are that employers have taken them in their stride.
The regulations harmonised temporary workers' basic employment conditions and protection with those of permanent workers.
They included the right to the same or no less favourable treatment when compared with employees doing the same or similar work regarding basic employment and working conditions, if and when they complete a qualifying period of 12 weeks of working for a company.
This means, for example, that from day one temporary staff should have the same access to facilities such as staff canteens, childcare (such as on-site crèche facilities) and transport as a comparable employee of the hirer.
After the 12-week qualifying period they should be entitled to the same basic conditions of employment as if they had been directly employed by the hirer on day one of the assignment, including any bonus, commission or holiday pay relating to the assignment. However, this does not include redundancy pay, contractual sick pay, and maternity, paternity or adoption pay.
The aim of the new regulations was to make working conditions fairer and more equitable for those agency workers who are essential to the smooth running of businesses but there were some concerns that employers would be put off from employing temporary workers by the changes.
Six months since the regulations were introducied this does not seem to have happened as the monthly figures on employer staffing intentions from the Recruitment and Employment Confederation indicate.
The REC's latest survey of employers shows that in general they are more confident of the economic future than they have been over the past 12 months. The results of its February survey revealed that almost two thirds (62 per cent) of employers said they planned to increase permanent staffing levels over the next three months and more than half expected their workforces to grow in the longer term.
Nearly a third of all employers said they were planning to grow their temporary workforce over the next three months and more than a third would expect to increase their temporary workforce over the longer term.
There are small signs of increasing confidence in graduate recruitment also, with another survey reporting in early February that more than three quarters of those employers who had been asked had confirmed that they were actively looking for graduates.
Despite the uncertainty among forecasters over the UK's economic growth over the next year, there are some signs that confidence is growing and all this is good news for job seekers, candidates and recruitment agencies.
While the unemployment rates remain high there will still be stiff competition for every available position but with proper preparation and the support of a reputable recruitment agency anyone looking for a temporary position as a start to their career or for a career progression from permanent administrative to secretarial, PA or EA roles may find that such positions become more plentiful than they have been over the last year or two.
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There are indications that employer confidence in hiring more permanent and temporary staff is improving and this can only be good news for candidates. By Ali Withers. http://www.rmsrecruitment.com
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