serious problems from temp to perm employment?? help!?
we had temp contracts at work which have no been moved to perm contracts, firstly we worked through an agency and now we work direct for the employer, in this time we have been given no information regarding dates or pay dates. our pay stopped with the agency the third week of september and then we were paid the first week of october from the employer, we have now been told that all pay paid from the agency in september we have to pay back and they want it in one go by the end of the month .. can they do this ? or can we get the costs spread? its ridiculus . we have had no communication about this or our contracts untill they decided we had to pay it back . its not like we were knowingly overpaid and spent the money . any advise would be appreciated thanks
Update:its a massive communiations company , and our agency manager works on site... i have an appointment with citizens advice tomorrow.
Comments
I think it is more likely a k0ck-up than a conspiracy, speaking from experience with many big companies.
Ask for the following, from your agency and your new employer (or both), as appropriate:-
1. the date you left the agency and started as an employee.
2. the exact calculation of how much the agency believes you have been overpaid.
3. your old and new hourly rate and hours of work.
4. the pay date from both (by which I mean the day they pay you for that week's or month's work)
It is possible there is some overlap in pay periods. There shouldn't be, but there might. You don't need to pay anything until it is all completely clear, and make sure you show that you are very happy to oblige once they have explained it clearly and fully (and only then). Ask your employer to help you - maybe someone in HR can meet you as a group? Repeat your willingness once it is all set out. Stay cool!
By the way, you are entitled to a full set of written terms and conditions (a 'contract') from your new employer within 2 months, but in the circumstances you need it yesterday! Ask if it hasn't yet arrived. Hope it goes well on your visit to the CAB - a good idea.
Good luck.
I think you need to look for work somewhere else. Sounds like someone is trying to screw you out of money. Look at your pay stubs. It should show what the check dates covers (the work week). Match them up and see what you find. I'm guess you are probably missing pay not owing pay. And why is the agency manager walking up to your desk. Normally they work in a different location and do most communication with employees and employers by phone.
The worst thing they can do is fire you. Then you can collect unemployment as long as you have worked long enough.
If this agency is a big company I would call the corporate headquarters and ask for some assistance from them. I'm really afraid you are going to end up getting screwed out of money or unemployed. BE VERY CAREFUL.
You are using the contract word. If it was a contract, then the wording of that should spell out the conditions everyone agreed to.
You cannot suddenly be a permanent employee unless you agreed to that. You make it sound like the employer came from a Disney movie and has a magic wand. And no, they cannot decide what they are paying without an agreement, nor can the compel the repayment of compensation.
Something sounds mighty weird and I would insist on clarification and explanation before moving forward.
Sorry for not giving advice. This whole thing about getting paychecks is a pain in the rear end.