How to Handle an Unprofessional Recruitment Agency?

NewsMeQuick

Hi all,

I wonder if I could get some advice on something.

I just started a contract with a new recruitment agency, and I'm having problems with them.

The latest issue is that I didn't get paid today, and it seems someone in the payroll there bolted out the gate before Christmas leaving me high and dry. It nearly happened last week, and the internal company's HR contact was as swamped with the convoluted processes for processing hours as I was.

I was troubled about partnering with them for this role when I was finally offered it. There was patchy communicatiion throughout, and they always provided the least detail when I needed it or at the last minute. I had to call them just before closing hours before my first day, asking for details about who to meet in the job in the morning, time, location etc.

Unprofessional. The big bad word in business and I don't rush to use it.

I kept within professional lines, but I sent a scorching email this morning to them about it - who aren't back till next week. This crowd, I can tell by their attitude, they'll pass the blame. I can almost see the damn response. As I pointed out to them, the contract clearly states that they are my employer, my contract is with them, I'm fulfilling all of my responsibilities and what remarkable is that if I failed to meet the high standards they've outlined for me in the contract, late for work repeatedly, not doing the work correctly, they would no doubt pull me up on it, 'respresenting them poorly'. So it's a double-standard.

5 agencies were tendered this contract, which is a great salary and I was fully registered with 2 others. The others were so efficient - and warm and most definitely went above board to assist me - in fact one of the other recruiters offered to coach me for this interview, though it wasn't with their agency, how kind was that?!. I regretted that my current agency presented the role and put me forward first.

Ideally, I would love to propose to my employer - who has clearly stated how happy they are with my work, beating my targets, getting along well with my colleagues - that the contract is cancelled and taken up immediately with one of the other agencies. But, I imagine that's a rare move, and a very serious one. Perhaps there are financial complications also. So it might be my ideal, but highly unviable I imagine.

I've worked with agencies in various countries and I've never had a problem. I'm stunned.

I don't want to have to continue to put up with patchy communication, late information, laziness and late pay, as well as having to spell out their damn responsibilities from the contract on a weekly basis.

What to do?

Stheno

NewsMeQuick wrote: »

Hi all,





Ideally, I would love to propose to my employer - who has clearly stated how happy they are with my work, beating my targets, getting along well with my colleagues - that the contract is cancelled and taken up immediately with one of the other agencies. But, I imagine that's a rare move, and a very serious one. So it might be my ideal, but highly unviable I imagine.


What to do?

Dont do what you propose above it would cost the company you are placed in.

Id suggest you look for another role and leave

the_syco

NewsMeQuick wrote: »

that the contract is cancelled and taken up immediately with one of the other agencies

Current agency would sue the company, and would probably win.

I'm guessing this agency offered you at the cheapest price, and you're now finding out why said price was cheap; could be a one-person outfit who outsourced the pay.

NewsMeQuick

Thanks for the responses.

Well, it's just an idea at the back of my head, and very much in wish-land. I could sense the gravity of such a move and knew it would likely be untenable. Damn.

One of the agencies quoted me the salary at a lower point, so I think they would have taken a bigger cut. But fair point. Who knows about the others.

An alternative, could be to have a sit down chat with my internal HR contact in the placed company and try to ensure communication about hours/payment is at least clear. Positive, open communication. She seems like a good contact, I think I can work with her.

Stheno

NewsMeQuick wrote: »

Thanks for the responses.


An alternative, could be to have a sit down chat with my internal HR contact in the placed company and try to ensure communication about hours/payment is at least clear.

You mean HR in the client company?

NewsMeQuick

Stheno wrote: »

You mean HR in the client company?

Yeah, that HR person in the company. I have to touch base once per week with her to authorise hours. She was one of my interviewers also.

Stheno

NewsMeQuick wrote: »

Yeah, that HR person in the company and I have to touch base once per week with her to authorise hours. She was one of my interviewers also.

Id be wary of approaching anyone in the client company about this the issue is between you and your agency. You could end up looking unprofessional here

NewsMeQuick

Hmm. Of the three parties, I think it would be hard for them to argue that. Regarding work, my colleague remarked that no one has ever achieved the amount of work that I do in a single day, I dress to the nines and I'm always punctual.

I can see that the authorisation problem seems to be with the internal HR contact. So, it seems the agency didn't explain how the system works.

Partnered with a difficult agency for a good role. Geez. I can see repeated headaches.

the_syco

It may be an idea to see if there a list of personnel of the agency. Anything between xmas and NYE can get ignored if the relevant people are on holidays. It sucks, but maybe hold off with the big guns until the new year?

NewsMeQuick

So, as an update, things got a little worse before it got better. Because of something payroll did, it triggered a bigger tax bill, because of dates. Long story.

My contact in the agency just got in touch, they had longer holidays than everyone else. They apologiesed profusely and swore not to let it happen again. Given all I could pick up from the communication, I believe the apology to be genuine and trust they'll make an effort.

I wouldn't have jumped ship unless there was repitition. Anything less than repitition could have shown me in a poor light.

Smooth sailing hopefully.