Recruitment agencies pay rates - advice please!

[neil72_uk]

I've been temping at the same company for 5 months and have found out that some of the other temps in my office have been on a higher hourly rate (even though they have only been there for one month and work in, shall we say, 'less demanding' positions).

I would like to discuss this issue with the agency but I'm not sure how best to go about this. Is it even worth me bringing this up?

The company where I work want me to stay on for longer but I feel like going elsewhere. If they ask me why I want to leave should I tell them the truth or keep quiet? I'm concerned that anything I say might affect my chances of getting another assignment.

Any advice would be most appreciated. I'm a bit hacked off so any info would help.

Thanks

Neil

[gammaray]

I assume the other agency staff at the company you are at are employed by the same agency as you. If so you should tackle your agency head on. You will probably find that there is a perfectly rational explanation.

The bottom line is that it is not the actual agency that set the price for your services. It's the company for whom you are temping that tells the agency what they are prepared to pay. Tell your agency that you are aware that people doing lower skilled work appear to be paid more and you would like to know why. No reasonable agency will refuse to answer.

In the end the agency need you more than you need them (although it may appear to be a mutually benificial arragement, the agency only makes money if they place people for work. the more people they have to place, the more money they make) hard working, flexible yet reliable people are not easy to find and their reputation stands or falls on the calibre of people they send out. Clearly you are a good worker so I'm sure they will do their best to satisfy your curiosity.

[neil72_uk]

Thanks for your reply. I plan to speak to the agency on Monday. I know agencies get a bad rep but the one I'm with have been quite good to me and I appreciate how difficult their job can be at times. I certainly couldn't do it, anyway.

As for the company themselves, I'm not sure what to think of them at the moment! They've offered me a slight increase to stay (which will bring me in line with the other temps) but I feel like I've been taken for a ride somewhat, especially given the work I've put in for them. I have to commute to work each day so I'll be looking for something closer to home now.