Agency work

[flashpig]

Have I a right to know how much an agency is charging for my work?

How would I go about finding out?

Would the agency/the company using the agency be a bit miffed at me asking?

It's just... well I feel I am a customer of the agency as much as I'm an employee, so I wouldn't mind knowing whether I'm getting good value for money?

Are all agencies run cartel style, with all of the agencies charging the same amount, but paying the workers different amounts, or do some agencies charge less from companies for their temps?

[Buenchico]

You've got no legal right to find out what the agency are charging their clients. Of course, if you've got a friend with good acting skills and a confident telephone manner . . . :-)

Many, many years ago (student days, about 30 years back) I worked through the Manpower agency and got on well with my boss so he was happy to tell me how much his company were paying the agency. It was about 2.5 times what I was receiving.

Chris

[Piper-AK]

Still good value to the company hiring a temp from the firm, as they don't have to worry about holidays/sick pay etc.

[emie77]

I actually work for an agency and most of the answers you have are wrng - at least this is the case wth reputable agencies.

Its not double or 2.5 times as a rule at all.

Its worked out on a margin - the first thing that is decided when working out what to charge a client is the what the pay the job deservbes - eg envelope stuffing you know that you need to pay around �6 per hour - from there the charge to the client depends on a variety of thngs, there might be a deal in place with that client meaning bulk business gets the client a reduced rate, they could be publuic sector which would often get then a lower rate or market rates could determine the rate - eg lots of agencies might go for the same business and you might have to match their price.

What you have to remember is that part of the difference between what the temp gets and what the client is charged is employers NI and holiday pay - on a �6 pay rate this is about �1.77.

[emie1977]

I actually work for an agency and most of the answers you have are wrng - at least this is the case wth reputable agencies.
Its not double or 2.5 times as a rule at all.
Its worked out on a margin - the first thing that is decided when working out what to charge a client is the what the pay the job deservbes - eg envelope stuffing you know that you need to pay around �6 per hour - from there the charge to the client depends on a variety of thngs, there might be a deal in place with that client meaning bulk business gets the client a reduced rate, they could be publuic sector which would often get then a lower rate or market rates could determine the rate - eg lots of agencies might go for the same business and you might have to match their price.
What you have to remember is that part of the difference between what the temp gets and what the client is charged is employers NI and holiday pay - on a �6 pay rate this is about �1.77.

[january_bug]

ernie - so glad you're here! I've worked for agencies for years (but not on the same side of the desk as you) and I knew some of those multiplier estimates were WAY off!!! As part of my job at the moment, I handle the invoices my boss receives from the agency I work for. He pays �9.50/hr plus VAT for a secretary who gets paid �7.25/hr gross. That is 1.31 times, NOT double or 2.5 times.

Any agency that attempts to charge double what it pays/pay half what it charges, would not survive five minutes!!!

PS Piper-AK - many agencies actually do pay holiday now, but you're right obviously - there's no legal obligation. I guess it's just market forces etc, that make them try to look as though they're offering something extra!