Paying "finders' fees" to agents ?

[BolshieBastard]

Seems some senior posters here have short memories.

Im aware of more than one contractor offering a finders fees about 10 years ago when the market was poor across all sectors. Agencies had got in the habit of only putting contractors already in work forward for new vaccancies. Had more than one argument pointing out how foolish that was but agents were \ are thick!

Anyway, I heard of £1000 being offerred as a finders fee. And to correct others, if you are offering the money, the agent is not charging you a fee to find work so no problem there.

It can be done, legally, if people want to do it.

[stek]

Hi,

I know the agencies sometimes pay fees to contractors for finding them candidates they later place but does anyone here pay a "finders' fee" to a favoured agent for finding them work ? I'm benched and I was thinking of offering £500 out of first paid invoice to any agent who can get me a role. Is this effective or just money down the drain ? Anyone do this ? Is £500 too much ? Seems it should create a differentiator in the agent's mind as to who to put forward anyway ?

Thanks in advance,

It's illegal in this country.

[Boo]

It's illegal in this country.

Which country ? Can you say what specific legislation it breaches ?

Boo

[Forgotmylogin]

Which country ? Can you say what specific legislation it breaches ?

Boo

At a guess, you could possibly run foul of this one:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bribery_Act_2010

The Agency is employed by the Client. You are offering a payment to an agent of a Client on condition of being given business. (Intentional lower-case "agent".)

At the very least it is a conflict of interest for the Agent to put you forward, hoping to get a kick-back, when they are being paid by the Client to provide the best available resource.

[cojak]

Which country ? Can you say what specific legislation it breaches ?

Boo

You have a short memory Boo, I've already answered your question once..

http://forums.contractoruk.com/accou...king-jobs.html

[cojak]

Although Mal's corollary gives food for thought.

But he's right - it will never happen.

[SueEllen]

Although Mal's corollary gives food for thought.

But he's right - it will never happen.

The CPS probably want a nice example to use for the Bribery Act that they can actually get it to court without being asked to drop it for "National Security reasons".

[BolshieBastard]

LOL! Bribery!? What's bribery in paying a finders fee? The agent is only putting you forward for the role. You have to interview and satisfy the client you meet their needs. Any fee is only paid to the agent on the client offering the role and the candidate accepting.

This is no different to the client paying the agent to find suitable candidates for the role they have. Some people really do have vivid imaginations.

[northernladuk]

LOL! Bribery!? What's bribery in paying a finders fee? The agent is only putting you forward for the role. You have to interview and satisfy the client you meet their needs. Any fee is only paid to the agent on the client offering the role and the candidate accepting.

This is no different to the client paying the agent to find suitable candidates for the role they have. Some people really do have vivid imaginations.

Because it could be seen as payment to be put forward as a preferred candidate when you wouldn't be normally. There are quite a few clauses that should make people nervous such as

erson (“P”) is guilty of an offence if either of the following cases applies.

(2)Case 1 is where—

(a)P offers, promises or gives a financial or other advantage to another person, and

(b)P intends the advantage—

(i)to induce a person to perform improperly a relevant function or activity, or

(ii)to reward a person for the improper performance of such a function or activity.

It's all arguable but the point is people won't touch it with a 10 foot barge pole because they don't know how it works. More a deterrent than actually the law in action.

Many company's have policies in place where even a the gift of a bottle of wine has to be logged to cover the company. If an agent is even remotely unsure they won't go for it.

[stek]

You have a short memory Boo, I've already answered your question once..

http://forums.contractoruk.com/accou...king-jobs.html

He also keeps forgetting he's got the 183-day rule wrong too!