de Poel have added a new AWR Traffic Light System to its existing electronic timesheet and processing system, e-tips®. This is to ensure clients and agencies are protected from any potential issues 3 months ahead of the Agency Workers Regulations which are coming into force in October.
de Poel’s recent demographic temporary agency worker profiling revealed that only 5% of the total temporary agency worker employees in the UK have appropriate personal accident insurance or life assurance. Having encountered instances where clients have been left legally accountable, de Poel felt compelled to raise the standards and address the lack of protection for the temporary agency worker by launching TempSure™.
A recent de Poel follow up investigation into the temporary agency worker impact aspect of the AWR provided some interesting responses. Just less than one in five businesses asked were still not fully aware of the effect the AWR will have on their temporary agency worker personnel. 14% didn’t know when the AWR would affect their temporary agency worker employees. Only 60% of firms are prepared for the implementation date and only just over half of respondents have a copy of the updated temporary agency worker guidance.
The industrial/blue collar sector is accountable for a third of the entire UK temporary agency worker market. The usage of temporary agency worker labour is 20% for accounting and finance jobs with 16% of those in nursing/medical/care employed on a temporary agency worker basis. These three industrial sectors alone contain the majority of temporary worker assignments. The remaining 31% is split between numerous other temporary agency worker sectors including secretarial/clerical, technical/engineering, construction and drivers.
Over the next 12 months, nearly a third of businesses are intent on increasing temporary agency worker numbers at their companies. This is almost double the number the number looking to reduced their agency worker head count. 54% of respondents who use agencies are keeping their level of temporary agency worker usage at the same time. Businesses are becoming more sophisticated when planning for seasonal fluctuations in demand and the temporary agency worker provides the perfect solutions. The future certainly looks bright and promising for the UK temporary agency worker.
Our temporary agency worker statistics have revealed an uplift in temporary agency worker usage in the short-term. The role and benefits a temporary agency worker can offer to the UK workforce is increasing in prominence and stature. 80% of organisations surveyed said they would at least maintain or increase their temporary agency worker head count in the next three months. Therefore, the temporary agency worker is a key component for companies looking for a reliable source of managing demand.
