References for agency

[northernladuk]

Hard to tell dress code as all interviews are on Teams nowadays my last one i changed and put on a shirt from a hoodie, guy interviewing me was in a slogan t shirt so I should have stayed as I was maybe looked too formal...who knows!

Indeed. I do think that smart never ages though. Granted it doesn't need to be a tie and high end matching suit but dress to impress is still a thing, as are first impressions. I'd be very disappointed to find out that Gen Z'ers or whatever have thrown that out the window and will start using sensible smart as a negative differentiator. That would be bordering on discrimination.

[Bluenose]

I can’t fathom it …they want timesheets submitted and approved weekly …so by midday Monday have the previous week’s time sheet approved ns sunmitted.

But, they won’t pay weekly only monthly.

Someone here will know the legality of what you are saying because specifying specific umbrellas (unless there is a clear legal reason) is classed as selling financial products and therefore illegal without a licence. The agency might well get a margin or referral fee if they demand you use specific umbrellas but this is also illegal as its also classed as selling financial products without a licence.

It's an un-regulated industry recruitment but I thought the specific umbrella criteria is only legal if there are specific requirements such as FCMA accreditation for U.K government gigs allowing them to 'suggest' a list of umbrellas that meet the requirements for 'expediency'.

As for the 4 references thing, well, we have a thread running for 'I just need two references', I suppose in this market the bulltulip-o-meter has buried the needle if they are now saying 4 instead of 2. The response is the same - I would give them the name of the previous agency or umbrella and let them chew on that.