Agency workers have the same rights as other employees
Employers have a ‘duty of care' to their staff to make sure that they're as safe as possible while at work. The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 states that this duty of care applies to all staff, including agency workers, as well as full-time and part-time employees.
Quite simply, if you're working on a temporary basis for a business, by law they have to make sure you have the safety equipment and training you need to do your job safely. They should also carry out risk assessments to make sure hazards and workplace dangers are removed wherever possible.
If they haven't followed these rules and regulations and you've been injured as a result, then we can help.
You can speak to us for free, impartial advice on , or fill in the secure online form to arrange a call back. We'll never pressure you into claiming, but we can answer your questions and help you understand what's involved.
Find out more about your rights as an employee.
What is an agency worker?
Agency workers have a contract with an agency, but they work for a different company or employer on a temporary basis. This is common with bar and restaurant jobs where agencies hire out workers when they're needed for certain events. Agency workers might also be called ‘temps'.
Many agency workers aren't aware of their rights and don't think it's possible for them to make a claim. But this simply isn't true.
If you've suffered from an injury while carrying out temp work for an agency and it was someone else's fault, then we may be able to help you make a compensation claim to cover the costs and impacts of your injury.
Who is your claim made against?
We know it can be difficult for you to tell who's responsible for your injury, and you might be feeling unsure whether you could make a claim.
Our advisors can help you understand whether you have a claim worthy of further investigation, and who's at fault.
In most cases, the owner of the company you're working with will have control over your work - this means they also have control over your safety. If this applies to your injury, then your compensation claim will be made against the company, and not the agency.
But there are some situations where the agency might have some control over how your work is carried out. For example, it might be the agency's duty to provide you with the equipment, protective clothing and training you need. If they've failed to do this, then your claim will be made against the agency.
Starting an agency worker compensation claim
The first steps towards making a claim are to get in touch with us for free on . You may be feeling nervous or worried about calling us, but we'll do everything we can to put you at ease straight away.
We'll be happy to answer your questions, and we'll listen to everything you have to say about your accident. Then, if you decide to go ahead and we think you can claim, we can pass you on to one of our specialist solicitors.
There's still no obligation to move on with your claim when you speak to our solicitors, but they'll be able to give you a free consultation, talk you through the claims process and answer any more questions. If you're still happy to go ahead, they can then get in touch with the business responsible for your injury and start your claim on your behalf.
About no win no fee
Our no win no fee agreement takes the financial risk out of making a claim, so you'll have one less thing to worry about. This is because you won't have to pay your solicitor's fee if your claim is unsuccessful.
If your claim is settled and you receive compensation, then you'll pay your solicitor a percentage of it. You'll have already talked about this with your solicitor and agreed on an amount before starting your claim, so there'll be no surprises along the way.