The benefits of temping:
Temporary work has become a career in its own right. With more 'professional temps' than ever before, it's no longer just the stopgap between permanent jobs that it used to be ? and here's why.
What is temping?
A popular misconception is that temping is merely sickness or maternity/paternity cover for a permanent member of staff. Many businesses have changed their attitude towards temporary staff. Companies ? especially those attempting to keep their headcount to a minimum ? use temporary staff strategically to boost productivity. Many people nowadays enjoy moving from one assignment to another, and in fact proactively seek temporary work.
Holiday pay
Since the introduction of the European legislation, the Working Time Directive temporary staff are entitled to paid holiday ? up to four weeks per year. Often your holiday pay will be incorporated into your hourly rate.
Increase your skills
Temping is excellent for broadening your skill set. Most temporary positions will introduce something to your CV. Whether it is a new skill or expanding the experience you have already gained, you could discover a completely different area of strength.
Identify new opportunities
If you are looking for a new permanent position, temporary work could be a way in through the back door. If new vacancies arrive whilst you are temping in a particular company, you may find yourself in the best position to approach managers regarding them. You may even find you are approached regarding other permanent opportunities that you may not have considered or heard about. The job could be yours before the company even thinks about advertising it!
Temping seems insecure ? what if I never get any temp work?
Temporary work is never guaranteed. However with the market as buoyant as it has been for the last year, gaining temporary work has never been easier. Think about the sort of work you are looking for and whether your expectations are realistic before starting. Rates of pay and demand for certain skills depend on where you live and what you can do, but if you pitch your skills at the right level and get good advice from your agency, the right temporary job should be a phone call away.
I'm put off by the lack of benefits when you temp ? what happens if I am ill?
As a temp, you are entitled to more than just your hourly pay. Statutory sick pay, statutory maternity pay and holiday pay are all available subject to certain conditions.
I've heard you always get underpaid as a temp ? is that true?
No. Absolutely not! Companies are constantly on the look out for reliable candidates with relevant skills. The present shortage of candidates has seen a rise in temporary rates, especially in areas where there is an acute skills shortage, for example a particular construction sector. The nature of temporary work ? meeting an identified need ? means that employers are often prepared to pay what it takes to get a job done.
What if I hate the company? Will the agency make me stay?
Obviously, if the assignment is short-term, such as a week, it's better to try and stick it out. You'll appear conscientious, and the agency should appreciate your efforts and bear it in mind when the next temporary assignment arises. If you're in a long-term assignment and you're unhappy, your temporaries consultant should be your first point of contact. He or she will be able to offer advice and maybe even improve the situation, and may have a wider understanding of things in the company. Also, if you feel the issue needs to be tackled with your line manager, your consultant can do that for you. An unhappy temp is not the best solution for a company and your consultant will appreciate this fact. Don't be afraid to raise concerns.
Will temping look like jobhopping on my Cv?
Qualify your work history by saying for example, 'Jan '99 - Nov '99, temporary work'. Make sure you put 'temping' under each assignment heading. Employers today are far more interested in your skills and what you can do than how you gained these. And temporary work no longer has a stigma or aura of 'the poor relation of perms.'
So, demand from employers and candidates has dictated that temporary work has moved on from being just a stopgap for those looking for permanent work. Many people have found temping can provide freedom and flexibility in their approach to where they work and how long they want to work for. The increase of people temping on an indefinite basis is a measure of its popularity.
Completion of your timesheet
Time sheets are in a three-part set using self-carbonating paper and must be completed in capital letters and in ink. Please ensure you complete your time sheet correctly to avoid delays in receiving your pay and staple any additional paperwork to the timesheet.
Submission of your time sheets
Prompt weekly submission of your fully completed time sheet will help ensure you are paid on time. Payment can only be made from original time sheets. Faxed time sheets will not be accepted by our accounts department. Once your time sheet is completed, and has been signed by the client, you must followed by the original sent in the post.
- Hand the white copy to the client.
- Post the top and yellow copy to our accounts department on Friday each week, using the address labelled on the timesheet.
- Ensure that any additional paperwork is stapled to the timesheet, for example mileage sheets, expense claim forms and receipts
- Keep the pink copy for yourself
- Should your assignment end mid week, submit your timesheet as normal, as soon as possible
Limited companies and VAT
If you intend offering your services via a limited company:
- You must have in your possession a countersigned terms of Registration for Contractors (HPS20)
- A copy of the Certificate of Incorporation issued by the register of companies must be received by the accounts department before any payments can be made to your company. Failure to provide this document will result in PAYE deductions being made
- An official invoice from your company must be submitted with each time sheet. This must have the following information: Invoice number, registered name and address and registration number, customers name and address (i.e. Hays), the weekending date, a breakdown of hours and rates, the total amount, the date the invoice was generated and it must be on company headed paper
- The invoice must match the timesheet
- If you are registered for VAT, the invoice must be a VAT invoice detailing the VAT registration number and the VAT amount
- If we are paying you by BACS, the bank account must be in the name of the limited company and must be a UK bank account
- NB: For limited companies which are not VAT registered, an invoice number is not a legal requirement, but it is the policy of BIS UK Ltd. that an invoice number is quoted, as this is best accounting practice.
Method of payment
- Payment is made weekly in arrears directly into your bank or building society account via the BACS system. If you do not have a bank account, BIS Group Ltd can pay you by cheque, but a charge of £5 will be deducted from your wages. You can expect payment into your account every Friday, but this is dependant upon you submitting a correctly completed time sheet every Friday
- As we are committed to processing timesheets on the day that they are received, from time to time payment may be made early. This is to be considered the exception rather than the norm
- Please note that payments cannot be paid into third party accounts and all cheques are 'Account Payee only'
- Your payslip and time sheet will be posted to you by first class mail, and will show the BACS payment date
Do you have a P45 for the current tax year?
- YES: Your P45 must be sent to our accounts department stapled to your first timesheet. If you fail to do this, you may be over taxed
- NO: You must complete a form P46 and sign the declaration where applicable. Write your name, Date of Birth and if known, relevant reference number in the 'Employers PAYE reference' box in the bottom half of the form. Send form P46 stapled to your first time sheet to our accounts department. If you fail to do this, you may be over taxed
- Once received, the information on the P46 will be input by us and the form sent to the Inland Revenue to enable them to calculate the correct tax code and send us a notification of coding (P6)
- It can take between 2 and 10 weeks for the Inland Revenue to notify us and we cannot use a P2 form issued to the temporary worker or a P6 issued by a tax office other than our own
- When we receive the P6 we will amend the tax code. The next time a payment is made any adjustments (rebates or claw-backs) will be generated
Change of circumstances
If you change your name or address, you must inform your consultant immediately. You must also inform our accounts department, either by letter, by clearly noting the change on your time sheet or by calling 0044 (0) 207 283 1363.
If your question has not been answered please fill in the form below and we will answer it as soon as possible, as well as adding it to the above list.