Agencies fill gaps for events, banqueting and sudden staff shortages, and some workers prefer the flexibility. The Agency Workers Regulations give agency staff rights from day one, including access to staff facilities like the canteen and to information about permanent vacancies. After twelve weeks in the same role with the same hirer, they're entitled to the same basic pay and conditions as if they'd been recruited directly. Agencies must also be licensed in some sectors and must follow conduct rules on charging fees to workers, which are generally not allowed for finding work.
For venues, agency labour costs more per hour but saves on recruitment and holiday admin. The risks are inconsistency, workers who don't know the menu or the building, and safety gaps. Brief every agency worker properly on allergens, fire exits and licensing rules, because the venue still carries legal responsibility for what happens on its premises.
What we ask on the show
- Is agency work a stepping stone or a trap?
- How do you make an agency worker feel part of the team?
- What do the twelve-week rules mean in practice?
- Are agencies propping up the staffing crisis?