Etiquette of agency work?

helpimcrap

helpimcrap

helpimcrap

Soldato
Joined
13 Jan 2004
Posts
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Location
Leicestershire
I might be in something of a quandary and I'm after ethical advice in a way.

Basically I asked for a job, someone I know from an agency arranged for a job through them in admin with 30mile commute and near minimum wage. I wasn't that fussed, I just wanted a job and the only reason I got the job was because of them.

However another agency has possibly sorted me out with a job at end of my road on more money so in essence a 50% real world payrise more in my field of finance.

I am grateful however I do not like the current job, it's only been a week but I don't like the admin work they do or way they do it.

If I went for the other job they want an immediate start I.e. finish this week, start next week.

Is that normal for agency or should I show them more respect? I've never had an agency job so I'm wary and don't want to ask for fear of upsetting the apple cart....

Maybe I'm over thinking?
 
Agency work is expected to be dropped or picked up at a moments notice by both sides, there's no loyalty in it from either staff or employers.
 
4 days notice is more than enough for agency work. It might please both sides giving that level of notice to show you have some commitment but as tom_e says there's usually no loyalty (can walk out at any time depending on your agreement), but how you are treated or treat the agency does affect the relationship and how far up the list your name is for future work.
 
Your acquaintance did you a favour. Return the favour by giving them adequate notice of your leaving, which means contacting them today. And send your acquaintance a tin of Haribo to say thank you.
 
They'll be grateful you're giving them a week. If you'd temped for a company through an agency for a few months you'd give them a month imo, it's your reputation you're leaving behind remember.
 
Thanks all. I'm not happy about leaving on a Friday to start potentially another on Monday. That doesn't sit well with me because it just seems a bit 'off'. I won't be contacting them until I have a definite reason to contact them. I will be trying to delay for a few days.
 
helpimcrap said:
Thanks all. I'm not happy about leaving on a Friday to start potentially another on Monday. That doesn't sit well with me because it just seems a bit 'off'. I won't be contacting them until I have a definite reason to contact them. I will be trying to delay for a few days.
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Most agencies would have no problem phoning you the evening before or even the morning of the day of your shift and telling you not to come in, a couple of days is generous.
 
Giving them a week/few days is more than enough for temp work(frankly anything over a day is more than enough), if it is close to minimum wage work then it isn't as though they don't already have a bunch of other people on their books who can simply replace you. The agency will deal with this sort of thing happening all the time, a big reason people take temp work is because it is flexible and can be dropped quickly when they find something else.

You'd burn bridges if you'd made a commitment to stay for a certain period of time or you just phoned up the night before or in the morning of your shift, so long as they've got time to find a replacement (and frankly they can do that easily within a day let alone the rest of the week) then they likely won't mind.
 
I've only been in the job a week and no PC logon, training limited to watching someone do things at 100mph in spite of me telling her to slow down so I can make notes.... I have never been so frustrated when learning something! I am so unhappy with the role I considered just walking out on Saturday. But I'll keep trying and if something comes of this other job ....

Have my HGV theory and hazard perception tests this week. Fingers crossed I do well on them.
 
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