Finding a good temping agency

If you are considering signing up with a temp agency, make sure you first know your rights. Employment agencies are bound by law to follow a minimum standard of conduct.

The benefits of an agency

Different agencies offer different work. Some provide temporary jobs, some permanent. Some specialise in certain fields like standard office posts, freelance, au pairs, self-employed workers, entertainers or law.

Signing up with an agency can be a convenient way to get short-term work in a hurry, and many school leavers and graduates use them as a way to raise some quick cash.

How to avoid the dodgy agency

• An agency should not charge you for finding (or trying to find) you work. There are some notable exceptions to this, including modelling and entertainment agencies. Au pair agencies are allowed to charge you a fee of up to £40 for finding you a placement outside the UK, but cannot ask for this money until you have accepted the post.

• If an agency takes you on to do temporary work, they must give you a clearly written statement of their terms.

• If you have done some work for them, the agency must pay you - even if the employer has not paid the agency. An agency that collects your pay from an employer must pass this money on to you within ten days, unless you have asked them to make different arrangements.

• If an agency takes on a person aged under 18, they must first make sure the young worker has been given guidance from their local careers service. They must not find under-18s work outside the UK without written consent from a parent or guardian.

• If agencies place advertisements for jobs, they must say in the advert that they are an employment agency.