Help! Problems with recruitment agency! Unemployed for a week!

[Alwayscommuting]

Hi everyone,

Looking for a bit of help and advice.
So I rocked up to my nice new job this morning, I was a bit early so I went for a wander so have a look at the area and I get a call from the recruitment agency that have been organising this role. She told me she was sorry but there had been a mistake and I wasn't starting until next week.

For background there has already been issues with my start date as they have set intake dates which the agency didn't tell me when I was asking when to hand in my notice. If they had told me at the time I could have given 6 weeks notice and would still currently have a job.

I am getting a bit stressed as I am the main wage earner in the house and being without work for a week makes a big difference to being able to pay the bills and put food on the table. I don't suppose the agency owe me anything even although it's their mistake that has left me without work for the week? I've looked to see if I can get something for a few days temping but I can't see anything? Anyone have any suggestions?

Is this a temp role or a permanent role? If permanent, do you have anything in writing from the company actually employing you?

@ElinorOliphantIsCompletelyFine I have an offer letter and handbook etc but the only thing I have with my start date came from the recruitment agency, it is branded with the company that I will be working for but didn't come directly from them. It is a permanent role.

Don't know if anyone can help me with this but I have been let down again and given a start date of next Monday now. Hugely unimpressed.

OK, well that will be sorted out one way or t'other. In the interim, your plan to look for anything temp going for a week is the best one How much do you need to earn as bare minimum - work towards that. It can be any agency, not just the one you got this job through.

(Not trying to minimise the fuck up re the start date, just trying to solve the immediate issue of finances for the week. You can bet your bottom dollar they will have managed to avoid any responsibility for situations like this in their T&Cs so don't spend time on thinking about getting anything from them. That said I would consider contacting the company directly to confirm next week as well - but when you are calmer)

Oh, hang on, I just noticed the dates of your last two posts. So they have let you down twice now?

Something fishy there. You need to bypass the agency and go direct to the company now. Either they have a job or they don't. Could it be something to do with references or another clerical aspect of the recruitment process?

Also start registering with other recruiters as a matter of urgency and get back on the market. Something tells me this won't be the last issue here, sorry.

Ring the company direct this morning and find out the real situation.

Agree that in the first instance try to find some temp work. If you can't find anything in your area of work then you could ask around local pubs etc, often they're happy to have people start straight away but they may be less keen for a short period of time (but maybe not with the football on at the monent - I worked in a pub around 2003 ish when euros or some such was on and we were massively short staffed and would have taken on someone for a week or two).

Could it also be worth phoning CAB to see if they can offer any practical financial advice? I'm assuming you won't get JSA because you've resigned so I'm not sure if they'd be able to help. Thoroughly shit situation. They'd be able to provide food bank vouchers though if things get stretched because of this.

I would most certainly lot a formal complaint with the recruitment company once you've started in the new job and I would also make the new job aware of the recruiters incompetence.

I don't get this. Even if you were recruited through an agency, your Job Offer should be a direct transaction between you and your new employer. The agency acts a the middle-man to get you the interview but the transactional steps should be between you and the HR dept (or manager) in that organisation.

If the paperwork is "branded" ie on the Company's letterhead, why aren't you giving the new company a call and taking issue with them? They're your employer, they can't hide behind an agency.

Sorry everyone, thanks for all your replies just saw them. I don't have a direct contact in my new company at all. The agency have been where I applied etc CAB haven't been able to help, apparently it's not a breach of contract as my contract doesn't contain details of a start date. This email does.

The excuse I'm getting is that they are trying to start people in "batches" for a new team and the previous 2 dates haven't had enough people. I've been told that 100% I will be starting on the 16th as there is a group of 16.

I had been thinking temp work but I have 0 experience in hospitality and nothing matching my skills would work for a week. DH also works full time but his income is less than mine. I had considered looking for a new job but by the time I get through the recruitment process it won't be any quicker. It's really left a sour taste and I haven't even started yet. I'm still fairly young and have limited experience in employment but I really don't want to be naive and taken for a ride.

my contract doesn't contain details of a start date

There are two documents that are normally issued. Firstly there is an Offer of Employment which lays out your basic Employment Terms and secondly your Contract of Employment.

Offer of Employment tends to be in the form of a letter, laying out aspects such as hours you will be expected to work, annual leave entitlement, dates of any induction days, and most importantly, your agreed start date.

Without that confirmed start date, from Employer not Agency, it is not advisable to resign from current employment. As you have found out, it is uncertain and ambiguous dealing with an agency, as they only care about their commission, they aren't invested in your current circumstances and it means they are an extra layer of bureaucracy to navigate though to get confirmed start date.