Reply to: Signed a contract with a start date but no work for 2 weeks

[SueEllen]

It's almost as if the checking firms are on the payroll of the consultancies....

Nope it's agents sitting on paperwork.

Though not all agencies do.

I'm often phoning up people to ask them to verify I am who I say I am as I'm suppose to start in 3-5 days.

[LondonManc]

It's almost as if the checking firms are on the payroll of the consultancies....

[northernladuk]

Seems very strange and not very professional from the agency.
I've always been paid to be onsite during security checks (BPSS SC etc.). I usually have to provide a CRB (or whatever it's called now) myself before start date. Most companies who are serious will still have background reading for you, H&S procedures and getting to know the people whilst the checks happen. BPSS is a few days anyway, and if SC the company has top pay £8000 I think so they want you onsite to make sure you're not a d***head before they write the check.

Not sure it's the agencies fault in most cases. We've had plenty of these types of threads where the start date has been delayed due to a long checking process for one reason or another. In many cases the length of the process just doesn't dovetail with the urgent need for a body so it's bound be delayed etc.

[Lance]

TL;DR I signed a contract to start on a particular date with an agency. The company i will be working for said it would take 2 weeks to do background checks. The contract has started but I have no way of starting work. I am in limbo. Also i have to give a months notice to get out of the contract.

Seems very strange and not very professional from the agency.
I've always been paid to be onsite during security checks (BPSS SC etc.). I usually have to provide a CRB (or whatever it's called now) myself before start date. Most companies who are serious will still have background reading for you, H&S procedures and getting to know the people whilst the checks happen. BPSS is a few days anyway, and if SC the company has top pay £8000 I think so they want you onsite to make sure you're not a d***head before they write the check.

[evoke]

Had the same thing. Unfortunately, in the six weeks that it took for them to fail to transfer my clearnace between one department and another the consultancy lost hte work because they didn't have anyone on site to do it.

I will keep in mind. That is my worry in the future.

[evoke]

Do this.

Also I question what you were doing for the first week and half when no one had contacted you about a security check.

You have to take some of the responsibility. Learn and move on

I learnt my lesson. Getting burnt is the only way to learn. I will be more informed next time of time lines and exactly what is going to happen. Also I am going to get the contract template out before an interview so I can scrutinize it. That will save time in the future.

[evoke]

As for the turning up "in the area" and hanging around. Bit weird. How'd you meet the manager exactly? Catch him walking into the office? All a bit stalkerish if you ask me.... Be careful of coming across as a nutter.

Bear in mind, agency will be telling them some complete crap and wont be admitting what they've done.

The way the agency was saying on the friday that will keep pushing the security checks people all weekend to get it through. I thought then it would be done by Tuesday. I thought the agency might get the security checks back by 9am and that I could go straight in to work that day by getting notified by the agency. I met the manager outside the big building by chance. He was going for a smoke. I ask him was I starting and he said that he had told the agency on Thursday that I would not be starting for another 2 weeks. The agency was well aware of the time period. Also they slowed the application time down by keeping my details for a week.
Definitely not stalking. Just eager to start work and being lied to that it could be done in a weekend.

[evoke]

Look for other work.

Don't worry about your notice period (although obviously IANAL). If they want notice, tell them you will be unavailable for work during the notice period and offer to send in a substitute. If that doesn't work, tell them you've been instructed by your psychiatrist not to wash for two months and you expect the client to accommodate you in line with the Equality Act - or something like that.

that is funny. Good way of putting them off.

[evoke]

1. Look for another role.

2. Send the agency an email tell them that you met the client manager today with the date, and ask them why it took x days for you to send the paperwork to the client when they know you can't start without it? The agent may phone you and say some rubbish so make sure you make a note of what they say plus time and date of call.

3. If you find another contract quickly and can start give notice on this contract citing breach of the contract terms which in this case is start date.

4. If the agency threaten to sue you point them to the email in 2. Then ignore them until they actually start court proceedings which is unlikely to happen.

Thanks. That is good advice. I learnt a lesson here. In future I will be more knowledgeable on start dates. I am currently looking again. I was worried about the notice period which put me off looking.

[missinggreenfields]

Yep. Waited three months for security clearance. Not the agent, nor the client's fault - just the security office being very very slow.

Had the same thing. Unfortunately, in the six weeks that it took for them to fail to transfer my clearnace between one department and another the consultancy lost hte work because they didn't have anyone on site to do it.

[VillageContractor]

1. Look for another role.

2. Send the agency an email tell them that you met the client manager today with the date, and ask them why it took x days for you to send the paperwork to the client when they know you can't start without it? The agent may phone you and say some rubbish so make sure you make a note of what they say plus time and date of call.

3. If you find another contract quickly and can start give notice on this contract citing breach of the contract terms which in this case is start date.

4. If the agency threaten to sue you point them to the email in 2. Then ignore them until they actually start court proceedings which is unlikely to happen.

Do this.

Also I question what you were doing for the first week and half when no one had contacted you about a security check.

You have to take some of the responsibility. Learn and move on

[NotAllThere]

....
Has this ever happened to some one before where they signed a contract to start on a date but did not start working until after that date? ...

Yep. Waited three months for security clearance. Not the agent, nor the client's fault - just the security office being very very slow. Fortunately, I wasn't in a hurry to start. Eventually, through personal contacts, I called the office of the top bod, spoke to his secretary - and a few days later my clearance came through. It was top £ so worth waiting for, and sheltered me through the post 2000 slump.

[psychocandy]

OP. Heres my take....

Agent knew there was a security check period but it also seems like theres no huge rush from the clients point of view (or they told the agency they need someone to start in a month). Agency has lied and got you to sign up knowing they can blame the security check on the delay. Remember once you're signed up hes got it 'in the bag' as far as hes concerned and he can blag any delay....

Of course, now you know, do what others have suggested. It probably will all come good here in the end but I think the agent did play you a bit with the start date.

As for the turning up "in the area" and hanging around. Bit weird. How'd you meet the manager exactly? Catch him walking into the office? All a bit stalkerish if you ask me.... Be careful of coming across as a nutter.

Bear in mind, agency will be telling them some complete crap and wont be admitting what they've done.

[Old Greg]

Look for other work.

Don't worry about your notice period (although obviously IANAL). If they want notice, tell them you will be unavailable for work during the notice period and offer to send in a substitute. If that doesn't work, tell them you've been instructed by your psychiatrist not to wash for two months and you expect the client to accommodate you in line with the Equality Act - or something like that.

[BrilloPad]

1. Look for another role.

2. Send the agency an email tell them that you met the client manager today with the date, and ask them why it took x days for you to send the paperwork to the client when they know you can't start without it? The agent may phone you and say some rubbish so make sure you make a note of what they say plus time and date of call.

3. If you find another contract quickly and can start give notice on this contract citing breach of the contract terms which in this case is start date.

4. If the agency threaten to sue you point them to the email in 2. Then ignore them until they actually start court proceedings which is unlikely to happen.

this.

Plus never stop looking until you are onsite invoicing.