Do Temporary Jobs Offer Benefits?

Temporary employment is an excellent way to gain new skills and experiences, helping you to get a foot in the door with a great company.

However, for temporary workers, there can be uncertainty surrounding the type of employment benefits available to them. 

Is it a good idea to take a temporary job?

Yes, if you are in a position to do so, it is a good idea to take up temporary employment, if it suits you.

Not only is a temporary job a great way to ensure you are still receiving an income, but they also eliminate any chance of employment gaps on your CV. 

Temporary employment can often be a gateway into permanent employment. If an opportunity for a new position opens up and you have proven to management that you’re a valuable asset to the team, you may be first in line to fill the role.  

You can learn more about how temporary roles compare against permanent roles in our dedicated guide. 

If you’re looking for temporary opportunities in the North West, then take a look at the roles on our website or get in touch with one of our friendly consultants. 

What are my employment rights as a temporary worker?

As a temporary worker, you will have the same comprehensive rights as a full time worker and any employer who doesn’t adhere to these laws could be prosecuted.

As a temporary worker, you are entitled to:

• Paid annual leave
• Minimum wage
• Statutory sick pay
• Rest breaks 
• Working time limits
• No unlawful wage deductions
• Access to shared facilities

At Four, we ensure that all employers adhere to these rights, so you have nothing to worry about.
 

Are temporary staff entitled to the same benefits as permanent?

Even though your contract may be shorter than permanent employees, you are still entitled to the same rights, including holiday leave and sick pay. However, you will likely only receive these same benefits after being employed for a consistent 12 weeks.

There may be some entitlements which do not apply to you as a temporary worker, but this will vary from company to company. Some companies will only provide additional benefits like maternity leave or bereavement leave for permanent employees. It is worth asking the employer what you will be entitled to before accepting the role.
 

Pension contributions for temporary staff

If you are currently looking for temporary employment, you should consider choosing an appropriate pension scheme if you haven’t already done so. You must ensure the scheme is set up for automatic enrolment. 

You will be able to take advantage of the automatic enrolment as long as you are older than 22 and earn more than £10,000 a year. If you don’t fit into this category, you have the choice of opting out of the scheme as long as you’re between 16-74 and earning more than £6,136 a year. 

If you are eligible, you will automatically enrol into our pension scheme at Four and this will be setup as part of our payroll requirements. This means you have nothing to worry about and will start contributing to your pension straight away.

Whilst you are still eligible for pension contributions, your income is likely to fluctuate and may need to be assessed at each payment run. 

It is worth noting that temporary employers have the right to withhold from the workplace pension scheme if they know they are going to be working less than three months. This is known as postponement.

How does holiday entitlement work for temporary staff?

Temporary workers are entitled to the same paid leave as regular workers and permanent staff, meaning you can take time off even if you are a temporary worker. 

If you want to request leave, you should send an initial request to your agency consultant and let your workplace manager know too. We will then organise and manage any leave requests on behalf of the employer, making it simpler for you.

Many temporary workers prefer not to take their holidays while they are on assignment since they will likely be working for shorter periods of time and time can be taken off between temporary contracts.

How does sick pay work for temporary staff?

Depending on the company you are working for, the terms of your employment agreement and the duration of your temporary employment, you should be eligible to:

• Not working when your sick 
• Receive Statutory Sick Pay (SSP)

When you receive your written policy or agreement, it should outline how and when to contact your hiring agency if you cannot work. 

As a temporary worker, you may not be entitled to the same amount of sick pay as permanent employees until you surpass the first 12 weeks of employment. However, this again may vary between companies and is worth checking.

If you’re currently looking for temporary work and would like to explore the options you have available to you, get in touch with us today to find out how we can help you.