You may be aware that a programme entitled “Low Pay Britain” aired recently and highlighted some of the challenges faced by the UK workforce.
They found job centres that pushed applicants to become Self-Employed as it removed them from the Government statistics for Job Seekers. They found a large supermarket that gave workers no more than 10 hours work per week as it meant they could avoid paying Employers National Insurance Contributions. They found a company that fired agency workers after 8 weeks as it meant they didn’t have to honour the Agency Workers Regulations and provide parity pay after 12 weeks. They found an agency that claimed its workers were apprentices and therefore paid them as little as £2.60 per hour plus expenses. They found an Umbrella company who claimed its workers were not employees and as such weren’t entitled to Holiday Pay or National Minimum Wage.
All of the above practices are obviously wrong and exploit the worker which is grossly unfair. At the same time all the above practices are obviously not the norm and it’s important that all companies are not tarred with the same brush because of the behaviour of the rogue element within their industry. At Exchequer Solutions we firmly believe that our workers are Employees, as such they are entitled to National Minimum Wage at all times and only once that has been paid will be able to address legitimate expenses. We also feel very strongly that no worker is forced to use our services. We want our employees to choose us because of the service we offer to them. We are here to aid workers from a status, administration and financial perspective – when they are sourcing work. If any individual feels that an alternative to working for Exchequer Solutions is preferable i.e. direct PAYE engagement for an agency then that is their choice.
If we are to operate in a sustainable business sector it is important that all End Clients, Employment Businesses and Umbrella Companies operate in both a compliant and ethical manner at all times to avoid situations such as those outlined above.
