If you hop from temp job to temp job, you may not realise that you’re entitled to holiday pay. More importantly, you may not realise what you need to do to be eligible for it. In temporary jobs in London, it’s easy to assume that holidays aren’t paid. But this isn’t true. Obviously, annual leave can be a bit more complicated for those doing temp work in London. So how does it work?
Temporary jobs in London – annual leave rules
All workers are legally entitled to 5.6 weeks’ paid holiday each year. This amount is based on you working full time. But it’s not unusual for your hours and pay to vary from assignment to assignment. If you only work part time, then this is calculated on a pro-rata basis. Many recruitment agencies in London used to overlook this, but a ruling by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) now means that they can’t.
Loyalty pays
This is where it matters that you pick the most suitable recruitment agency for temporary jobs in London. There are a lot of recruitment agencies in London. However, in terms of holiday pay entitlement, it doesn’t pay to jump around. To secure your holiday pay, the most important thing is to stick with one agency. They can look at your earnings over the preceding 12-week period (in advance of time off) and divide this by the hours you’ve worked. This gives them an accurate picture of your average earnings, which will determine the rate that your holiday pay will be paid at.
How much holiday leave and pay do temp workers get?
The amount of paid leave you’re entitled to will depend on the amount you work. Entitlement is worked out pro-rata. For example, if you work two days out of every five, then you’re entitled to 2/3rds of the full-time entitlement of 5.6 weeks.
However, this doesn’t mean you lose the flexibility you love about temping. You can take longer if you wish, most notably between assignments. However, if this goes beyond your entitlement, then you’ll need to take this as unpaid leave.
If you’re working in a particular placement for more than 12 weeks and they have enhanced annual leave entitlements for their permanent staff, then you’ll also be entitled to these same conditions to ensure that you’re treated no less favourably as a result of doing temp work.
How do I book my annual leave?
It can seem a little complicated. Importantly, always keep on top of your timesheets. This enables our executive consultants to accurately calculate your holiday pay when required. You can request holiday pay when it suits you, but you must actually take the time off. Download a holiday pay request form. Remember, this needs to be done in addition to booking time off directly with your placement.
At Love Success, we care that temp workers in London are treated fairly. Find out more about the benefits of choosing Love Success by calling 020 7870 7177.
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