Should I try to negotiate a higher wage?

[Cremeegg456]

I have posted before.
I work through an agency in a long term placement. I'm paid via an umbrella and despite the wage advertised being higher, what I get in net pay is the same as someone on the new minimum wage gets (£9.50).

I've asked about PAYE, but the PAYE rate actually gives the same net pay as umbrella (fair enough to them for not ripping off staff through umbrella).

Yes i was silly to not consider this when I started but I've only been there a month.

I have a relevant degree and around 10 years experience, yet I'm paid exactly the same as somebody who's 18/19 with none of the above. No disrespect to them at all as they are indeed doing the same work, but other jobs will pay you better based on the above.

Shall I tell the agency that I'm not continuing?

Also includes rolled up holiday pay (which is legal in certain circumstances, but I think it's a con)

I would look for a similar roles and their pay and show that to the agency.

It is likely that the agency may not really care as they are getting paid. So it would be worth keeping an eye out for new roles. Is there potential to go permanent?

I'm getting a bit fed up with supply in general, the flexibility is amazing but the lack of a stable salary isn't. If i wanted to take a week's holiday I'd lose £300.

Yeah the agency probably don't care sadly.

The place I work at also pays its permanent staff in the region of the min wage sadly.

So when they heard our hourly rate they thought we agency staff were being paid a lot more than them, but then I explained that what I actually receive net is the same as what they get

You’re probably better looking for somewhere else

I have a relevant degree and around 10 years experience, yet I'm paid exactly the same as somebody who's 18/19 with none of the above. No disrespect to them at all as they are indeed doing the same work, but other jobs will pay you better based on the above.

So you're doing a job that a teen with no experience or qualifications can also do. Is there a reason you haven't taken a job that actually requires degree/qualifications and experience, surely that would pay better than minimum wage?

You can’t roll holiday pay into minimum wage. If you’re taking home £9.50, you are also entitled to holiday pay, and double check how they’ve calculated their NI contributions too, this is another area agency staff get screwed on.