If you can not get to work please inform the agency

[ensaeed]

Hi

In my contract it is written if I am late to work or can not get to work I should be informing the agency rather than the client directly.

Not sure what is the reason for this clause? What benefit will the agency get out of this clause?

Regard

[TheFaQQer]

I've had similar before. Never done it, though, even when I was on long-term sick.

[glippiglop]

Because if someone at the client were to ring the agency to find out where you are, the agency needs to have an answer for them.

It's not that big a deal though is it - the only difference to you is who receives the message in the first instance.

[ensaeed]

But it makes more sense in informing the line manager directly rather than informing through the agent.

[JRCT]

Because if someone at the client were to ring the agency to find out where you are, the agency needs to have an answer for them.

It's not that big a deal though is it - the only difference to you is who receives the message in the first instance.

What?

I've never worked on a contract where the client would do that. They'd phone me if they wanted to know where I was.

It may not be a big deal, but it's a waste of time. You just wouldn't do it.

And I'm sure if I phoned my agency contact to tell them I had a dicky tummy and wouldn't be going in, she'd say "What are you telling me for? Phone the client".

[Pondlife]

I'm willing to bet that the contract doesn't that you inform them instead of the client. Just that you DO inform them. Of course you need to tell the client.

[BolshieBastard]

I had a contract or two like these, tend to be crap put in there by hayes or computer farters.

Just get it taken out or amended that you'll inform the client asap if unable to get in.

[GillsMan]

Just get it taken out or amended that you'll inform the client asap if unable to get in.

I wouldn't even do that tbh. I'd just ignore it. I had a contract once that stated that I had to inform the agency of any annual leave/holidays during the contract. I didn't inform them, I just told the client, squaring it with them, and filled out timesheet as per. No-one ever said anything.

[Zero Liability]

Got a similar clause in one of the documents accompanying the contract. The agency even asks that you inform them via the timesheet submission system. The client isn't even aware of its existence, virtually no one ever fills it in and the agency usually couldn't give a toss. Client usually just would like a text informing them, and everything gets along just fine. So basically ignore it, as above.

[jmo21]

I think all my contracts have said that, and I've never thought it worth the hassle to demand to have it taken out.

Any absences or time off taken, I never inform the agency, although I can see why they have it there. It's to cover their own arse should you NOT inform the end client you won't be on site. "We told him he has to tell us"