Fighting Back Against Late Payment Culture

[northernladuk]

I actually think there would be some mileage in a review site for recruitment agents, if applied in the right way. For example, it could be used to highlight unscrupulous agent/agency behaviour (which we have all experienced before) with a view to them sharpening up their practises, in the knowledge that if they don't, they would be named and shamed.

Equally reviews for positive agent/agency behaviour would also need to be encouraged, which however by human nature is unlikely to occur, as humans generally only moan about when things go wrong as opposed to praise when things go right...

So maybe not a goer, and I guess there is also likely to be any number of legal implications with any such review site.

That's even worse. At least late payments ars tangible and unambiguous. How an agent acts is always up for debate. Some of it is part of the game, some pushes it a bit far and sometimes it's a step too far. Which of those it's is purely dependant of the opinion of the poster which makes the feedback utterly worthless.

[LondonManc]

That's even worse. At least late payments ars tangible and unambiguous. How an agent acts is always up for debate. Some of it is part of the game, some pushes it a bit far and sometimes it's a step too far. Which of those it's is purely dependant of the opinion of the poster which makes the feedback utterly worthless.

On top of that, you don't know if it's the agent acting alone or on the orders of his boss or if it's agency policy.

[kaiser78]

That's even worse. At least late payments ars tangible and unambiguous. How an agent acts is always up for debate. Some of it is part of the game, some pushes it a bit far and sometimes it's a step too far. Which of those it's is purely dependant of the opinion of the poster which makes the feedback utterly worthless.

That's an exact example of why this would be good to do - so that agents may then stop and think about acting in the same way the next time round.

And yes if the opinion is backed up with actual facts then this would not be able to be open to interpretation, which I think is what you are eluding to, and would be a clear to all.

[kaiser78]

On top of that, you don't know if it's the agent acting alone or on the orders of his boss or if it's agency policy.

It doesn't matter does it ?

[northernladuk]

That's an exact example of why this would be good to do - so that agents may then stop and think about acting in the same way the next time round.

And yes if the opinion is backed up with actual facts then this would not be able to be open to interpretation, which I think is what you are eluding to, and would be a clear to all.

But what is pushing it too far? Asking for 2 references? Not telling you the client before putting the CV in? Pocketing 20% of the rate?

Some newbie crying about an agent because he can't play the game is no good to the rest of us. Just won't work on any level.

[eek]

As I say to my children "Life's unfair, deal with it".

By that I mean you put it behind you and get on with what you need to do. Moping around and complaining about things doesn't do anything productive and just wastes time....

Complaining about an agent not paying is a waste of time which could be better spent passing the details to someone who specializes in late payments and focussing on finding another better contract...

[LondonManc]

It doesn't matter does it ?

Of course it does! What makes you think it wouldn't?

Agents are permies - they have to adopt the behaviours of their employer and are fully under SDC. People can change teams or jobs and you see their behaviours change. Compare, say, Progressive to McGregor Boyall; Progressive is a more aggressive, spam-to-sell agency while M-B are much more about building relationships. If an agent switches from one to the other, they'd have to alter their behaviour accordingly. Similarly bad payers - how can you prove what that's down to? Poor systems, poor administrators, a decision to hold payments back a week from an FD or team lead for example?

There are two key things for me for an agency:
Is the agency's standard contract template IR35-friendly?
Are they on a percentage commission or do they operate on fixed budget?

[northernladuk]

There are two key things for me for an agency:
Is the agency's standard contract template IR35-friendly and matches the working practices?
Are they on a percentage commission or do they operate on fixed budget?

I always ask the second question first and get email confirmation. I can influence the first question later.

[LondonManc]

I always ask the second question first and get email confirmation. I can influence the first question later.

Working practices will vary from role to role - it shouldn't be difficult to have a generic IR35-friendly base contract template and a distinct one for IR35 should it?

[DallasDad]

I belong to a group of specialist Ambulance Chasers

FTFY

Another OP that has disappeared of the face of the planet
I wonder if he is really developing a new angle on Ambulance Chasing, tailored to miffed contractors!

Eeek!