Agency worker contract template
An agency worker contract sets out the terms on which a recruitment agency, acting as an employment business, finds temporary assignments for a worker. It covers pay, holiday, sickness, the worker's rights after twelve weeks, and how assignments and the agreement can end. The worker agrees to it before the agency provides any work-finding services.
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What changes each time
27 values. Everything else is your wording, kept exactly.
The agency
- Agency's legal name
- Agency's trading name
- Company number
- Registered office address
- Complaints contact
The worker
- Worker's full name
- Worker's home address
- Type of work
- Date these terms start
- Date of the key information document
Status and pay
- Umbrella company's name
- Hourly rate
- Minimum rate we expect to achieve
- Overtime, night or weekend rates
- Pay day
Holiday and working time
- Start and end dates of the holiday year
- Notice to take holiday
- Notice to withdraw from the 48-hour opt-out
Ending and other terms
- Notice to end an assignment
- Notice to end the terms
- Pension scheme
- Other paid leave or benefits
- Collective agreement
- Training
- Handbook or procedure for discipline and grievances
Signatures
- Names and positions
- Dates
The rules it usually needs
Written in plain English when the template is set up.
- One of several wordings
“The agency is a company registered in England and Wales, or has a business address.”
The document carries the wording for whichever applies, and the other wording is left out.
- One of several wordings
“The worker is paid directly through PAYE under a contract for services, or employed by an umbrella company.”
The document carries the wording for whichever applies, and the other wording is left out.
- Only when…
“Include the sentence about permanent roles only when the agency also places permanent candidates.”
When this applies, the sentence about permanent roles is included; when it does not, it is left out and the rest of the document is unchanged.
- Only when…
“Include the short assignment arrangements only when short assignments are common.”
When this applies, the short assignment arrangements is included; when it does not, it is left out and the rest of the document is unchanged.
- One of several wordings
“The rate is a fixed hourly rate, or the rate in each assignment confirmation with a minimum.”
The document carries the wording for whichever applies, and the other wording is left out.
- Only when…
“Include overtime, night and weekend rates only when there are other rates.”
When this applies, overtime, night and weekend rates is included; when it does not, it is left out and the rest of the document is unchanged.
- Only when…
“Include the 48-hour opt-out only when the worker agrees to opt out.”
When this applies, the 48-hour opt-out is included; when it does not, it is left out and the rest of the document is unchanged.
- One of several wordings
“Holiday is taken on request, or paid as rolled-up holiday pay.”
The document carries the wording for whichever applies, and the other wording is left out.
- Only when…
“Include the antenatal appointments sentence only when it is relevant.”
When this applies, the antenatal appointments sentence is included; when it does not, it is left out and the rest of the document is unchanged.
- Only when…
“Include the pension scheme name only when the scheme is known.”
When this applies, the pension scheme name is included; when it does not, it is left out and the rest of the document is unchanged.
- One of several wordings
“Either side can end an assignment at any time, or must give notice.”
The document carries the wording for whichever applies, and the other wording is left out.
- One of several wordings
“Other paid leave and benefits: none, or as stated.”
The document carries the wording for whichever applies, and the other wording is left out.
- One of several wordings
“Collective agreements: none, or as stated.”
The document carries the wording for whichever applies, and the other wording is left out.
- One of several wordings
“Training: none provided or required, or as stated.”
The document carries the wording for whichever applies, and the other wording is left out.
Questions people ask
What is an agency worker contract?
It is the agreement between a recruitment agency and a temporary worker setting out the terms of their relationship. The agency must give the worker its terms before it provides any work-finding services.
Is an agency worker an employee?
Usually not. They are normally a worker under a contract for services, or an employee of an umbrella company, and are not an employee of the agency or the hirer. Their rights are different from an employee's.
What rights do agency workers have after 12 weeks?
After 12 weeks in the same role with the same hirer, they are entitled to the same basic pay and working conditions as if the hirer had recruited them directly, including pay, working time and annual leave.
Can an agency charge a worker a fee?
No. An employment business must not charge a work-seeker for finding them work, and the contract says so.
What is a key information document?
It is a document the agency must give an agency worker before they agree to its terms, setting out how they will be paid, what deductions will be made and an example of their pay.
Use this template
It opens in DocuWeave as a template you can check, change and publish. Nothing is used until you do.