The four most common mistakes are:

Missing name (who are you)?

Lunch breaks not deducted

The start and finish times not adding up

The timesheet not coming to us on a Monday, so payment cannot be made for that week

Incorrect or missing timesheets makes things hard for us; how do we know how many hours to pay you? So please take every step you can to ensure you timesheet is correct. If, at any time, a timesheet is incorrectly completed we will endeavour to contact you and sort it out. But this might delay payment to you.

Let us know as soon as possible and we will take steps to check the hours and pay you. Even if your manager is away, you have still worked those hours and we need to pay you.

Your timesheet/s need to be submitted on a weekly basis. Even if your timesheets are sent on-line.

You must inform us, in writing, so we can amend your bank details on our system and the pay will go into the account you provide. We are only permitted to accept change of bank details in writing (email or fax is fine). Remember we need sort code, account number and name of account/account holder and the address of your branch.

You will be paid on a Friday the week following submission of your timesheet (usually this means one week in arrears). Our working week is from Sunday to Saturday. We try and ensure the money clears into your bank account before the weekend, but sometimes building societies can take longer to clear the payment.

You will be paid directly into your bank/building society account, so it is very important that you complete the bank details form correctly at your interview.

Again, please let us know and we will endeavour to recover the overpayment from your next pay packet. If this is not possible (perhaps it is your last week) we will agree a repayment schedule with you.

This seldom happens, but all under payments are treated urgently and will be adjusted in the next pay packet.

You need to contact your consultant as soon as possible. We will endeavour to resolve the problem immediately.

We agree all rates with you, in writing, before each assignment (in your assignment confirmation letter). If you are in any doubt as to what your rate of pay is you should clarify this with your consultant as soon as possible.

Definitely. If you work, you will be paid – that is the law and it is also the right thing. Any disagreement between you and the client, or the client and us, is not related to paying you for the hours worked.

Yes. Not being “tied” to a single employer with an employment contract can bring benefits to you; temping also has downsides (e.g. protection against being dismissed and some benefits). Temporary staffs have a freedom, enshrined in their contract with us, to work when and where they like (notice is not required, you simply decline to work)! Temporary workers can stop assignments and take time off to suit their needs. Of course if you accept to work an assignment, it would be discourteous to walk off the assignment, but that is your right and we do not influence this in anyway. The same right applies to the client, they can say we no longer require the services, without notice.

Not being an employee does not mean that you are unprotected at work. The law on safety applies to all workers (irrespective of the type of contract you have) and we also take measures to help protect you at work. For detailed advice on this we recommend speaking to a solicitor.

We get this question quite often. The simple answer is we welcome you, BUT your current firm might have a contract with the client that prevents or restricts this. To avoid any mess and confusion, we suggest that you talk to us and we can help you raise the matter of pay with your manager and if that is not successful, then we can help you transfer (if permissible under their contract).

No. Everyone pays income tax and National Insurance. The amount you pay is determined by the government AND the means by which you are engaged to work (the contract type). At present, we only accept to pay workers by PAYE (we deduct your tax and National Insurance and pay this to the Inland Revenue) or Limited Company (you have a limited company set up and they invoice us for your services). For advice on this, speak to an accountant or solicitor.

This is not as straightforward a question and each worker must be assessed. In essence, SMP depends on when and how much time you have worked. You can, of course, take time off at anytime. We ask that all pregnant workers contact us as soon as they know, this helps us to take additional steps with regard to their safety at work.

The short answer is ‘no’. Your contract with us clearly states that you can accept or decline an assignment but you must abide with the protection period that you have signed in your contract. However, it will help us if we can at least try and resolve the conflict or problems that you might have with the assignment.

We can make these payments on your behalf, monthly. We cannot make payment if you are not working, for this reason it is often better for the standing order (or direct debit) to come from your bank account.