Temporary acency worker issues

[FunkyBarnYardBroom]

Hello hoping someone can advise me.

I started in Jan 19 on a four week placement believing that an agency was my employer.

My first payslip shows Agency as my employer.

My second and subsequent payslips to the end of the tax year started COMPANY 1 as my employer. Apparently payroll is outsourced. Let's call this COMPANY 3 as all pay related queries have to go through them.

I have had my first payslip for the new tax year and COMPANY 2 is now listed as my employer.

I have been in this placement since early Jan 2019. Same hirer nothing has changed for me.

I don't seem to have a contract with anyone.

Payroll company tell me the employer stated on my payslip will change from time to time and this is normal for agency workers. I've not worked on agency before so unsure about this.

I feel concerned that my employer may change at any time and so might any "contract" (apparently they will email me a new contract for company 2 within the next few days)

Who is my employer? Is this normal? Should I run a mile?!

Company 3 issue all payslips and would issue p60 and P45 if this is relevant.

Help! (And thanks! Hope this made sense!)

Apologies. There were paragraphs on my phone app. It's all merged :(

Hopeful bump :)

Just a wee bump 😀

Bump (sorry cant help!)

I temp during the summer (student) my employer is the agency I'm working for, they are always listed as such on pay slips. They also pay me holiday pay, sick pay, etc.

I've had paid holiday. The agency outsource payroll who seem to assign me to an employer?! I'm paid PAYE

Payroll company tell me the employer stated on my payslip will change

No this is not normal. You have only signed a contract with one company!

How about speaking to HR at the company you are currently working at, and asking them if, as far as they are aware, they are employing you directly. I imagine the answer is no. If so, ask them who their contract is with, which will be the agency.

I would expect you to be a casual agency worker and to have a contract for services with the agency, or with an umbrella company, which could be the payroll company. Basically, someone should be issuing you paperwork confirming your status and the various terms.

Sorry if this is a daft question but who is company 2? Some random or the company you are physically working for?

I'd guess as flowery says that you are a casual agency worker and has a contract for services with the agency or umbrella company which could be the payroll company.

OK - let me specify my current role:-

I work for Brook Street - who find me work as and when I want it - with e.g. government departments, which is where I work now. Brook Street pay me, gov department signs off payslip.

I also worked for a large accountancy firm through an umbrella company but another company had the job of outsourcing the payroll etc. That latter scenario sounds like your scenario. I think with umbrella companies it is quite usual to outsource payroll.

I've had interviews via an executive search company and recruitment agency - not sure why there are both but hey ho.

Regardless of which you should have a contract!

I'm in the same position as MadameDD, I work for an agency with whom I have a contract, they are the people who pay me. It sounds as though something different is happening in your situation.

Company 2 and 3 are named as my employer on payslips.

When company 1 was listed as my employer I was told I would be eligible to start pension contributions in April.

Now beginning of April my named employer on the payslip was changed. Just had another email to say I'll be eligible for pension contributions from June now

Is my employer with the umbrella company going to keep changing so that I don't get pension contributions paid by my employer do you think?

You've got a lot of questions. Pretty much being told, 'it happens' is not correct.

I got a booking from what turned out to be a dodgy as fuck employment agency. Fortunately I was able to switch employment agencies during the booking but it was my first and only experience of working for an umbrella company. Something I will never do again.

If your N.I. contributions are not up to date it may affect your pension or your claim to Statutory Maternity Play or Statutory Sick pay etc.

Look OP - who do you actually work for? is it, e.g. Barton Company whose offices you go into on a day to day basis?

Does this mean as you have Company 1 and 2 on 2 different payslips that another company has taken over Company 1? If so they should have informed you of this change. Does a separate company pay you and you have their details etc for payroll? This should all be cleared up actually by your P60 which you should get any day now which should show you who is actually paying you.

Basically ask questions as ToEarlyForDecorations says of anyone who's in a similar position or who you can ask these questions of.

You can check (and I did this) with HMRC to check you are on the correct tax code and paying correct tax, unsure who to advise re NI contributions but they may be able to advise you.

I think that Company 3 is strictly a payroll company - I had this before - they were called Giant - and dealt (not great help I must admit!) with payroll help. Company 1 who was the umbrella company was called Alexander Mann Associates - they didn't know anything about the payroll side of things but dealt e.g. with onboarding me to their client who I physically worked for and also got me the interview etc. The payroll company couldn't or wouldn't speak to me re e.g. my contract being extended. The company I physically worked for could maybe look into getting my contract extended - but to get the proper sign off and any extension of contract this had to go through Alexander Mann Associates and also Giant for the payroll side of things.

feel free to PM me if you want to talk further about this!

Ok so hopefully I can clear this situation up apologies I seem terrible at explaining!

agency send me to a place to work I attend every day.

Agency outsource their payroll. Within this payroll outsource place they placed me with a company. I received payslips from Jan to end of March stating a company name (not agency)

Then first payslip of April arrives. Whole new company listed. (Not agency)

I speak to the agency who say call payroll outsource. I did. They said it's very common for agency we love companies for you so you get the best option.

I ask why. He can't tell me. He just says this is what they do.

Agency tell me this is normal. I can see NI deductions being taken. Should I call HMRC to check this is going to them?

I logged on to my government account.

Agency are listed as my employer for 1 week.

I have anther company listed as my employer to the end of march.

Weird thing is I have an email from the agency saying that they employ me.

But my tax and NI is dealt with by these other companies

I'm lost

@madamdd I don't know how to PM on the app but thank you

Thanks to everyone. I don't think I'll get any answers out of anyone at this rate.

The government bcan see my tax and NI contributions. The contract I was told I would get hasn't yet arrived

Outsourcing payroll does not mean that your employer changes on your payslips, it means that they are paying someone else to do their payroll rather than do it in house.

I have seen this kind of set up a few times and it was dodgy and designed to avoid paying over tax and NI deducted from wages to HMRC. Company 3 accrues the debt and is eventually liquidated, while company 1 continues trading unharmed.

Can I be in trouble with this?

I just needed a job :(

No, whatever is going on it's not your fault and you couldn't/wouldn't be held accountable.

Personally I would find another agency, but if you're desperate for a job and they're paying you as agreed then I completely understand that the decision isn't that simple.

I'm not paying tax at the moment last year in over paid in a higher paid job.

This year I'm not earning enough.

I can see the deductions showing on my online gov account. So I'm ok should I need to make a claim for benefits or anything in the future?

It's such a worry really. I love my placement. But I don't want to Be in bother for working

Ask HR which other employment agencies you use. Or phone around the other employment agencies and ask if they supply staff to the company. Then ask the employment agency how to switch if you are satisfied with the terms, pay etc of the other agency. Tell your boss you are not satisfied with the agency you are with and follow through with the instructions that the prospective new employment agency gave you to switch. If all this sounds complicated and you can't face asking your boss, then, try and sort out your current situation.

The umbrella company's name is, 'Orange Genie' and I never want to see or hear their name ever again.

Correction: Ask HR which other employment agencies they use.

The placement I am at only use this agency.

I've briefly discussed this with them and they seemed baffled but said I probably don't need to worry unless I'm not being paid?

Going to get a good night's sleep and reread in the morning and make a plan.

Thanks for the advice. I do tend to overly panic so immediately assumed my world was about to cave in!

Good news. Interview today.

Direct with company, no involvement from the agency.

Fingers crossed 😁