With the Agency Workers Regulations 2010 (AWR) coming into force on 1 October 2011, newly-published research by recruitment company Randstad has suggested that many UK employers are unprepared for their introduction – even though the final regulations were published over a year ago.
According to the research, published in Randstad’s Shifting Sands report, only 7 per cent of UK employers have conducted an assessment of how their business will be affected by the AWR, with more than a third of organisations (37 per cent) surveyed admitting that they are still unfamiliar with the AWR.
Under the AWR, agency workers will be given the right to equal treatment with those who are recruited directly by the client, subject to a 12-week qualifying period. This will cover basic working and employment conditions, including pay, annual leave, working hours, overtime and rest breaks. These changes will have wide-ranging implications for UK businesses, so it is therefore essential that businesses ensure they are ready for their introduction. Government guidance on the AWR will be available in the spring.
Over the past few months, Matthew Arnold & Baldwin has been hosting and taking part in seminars that look at how the AWR will affect businesses and what businesses should be doing to prepare for them. Further details are here.
On 15 March, we are hosting a breakfast seminar on the AWR, in conjunction with recruitment consultancy Hamlin Knight. Matthew Arnold & Baldwin’s Head of Employment Michael Delaney will be speaking on some of the important issues and implications surrounding the AWR. Michael will also be discussing the impact of the AWR in a free seminar for local solicitors on 22 March.
If you have any concerns about how the AWR will impact on your business, please contact Michael at michael.delaney@mablaw.com.
UPDATE: Michael Delaney has posted details of the main questions/ issues of concern that were raised by employers at our recent seminars. Please click here to read them.