Agency teaching work woes

Little John · Post by **Little John** » 12 Dec 2014, 17:38

It's not just the poor and uneducated proles this is happening to either. I have a degree, and a professional qualification to teach. And yet, the agency I work for are routinely pulling stunts like getting a teacher to take on a given short term post on an agreed rate, only to have the teacher find, when they check their payslip,. that they have been paid on a much lower rate. This has happened to me twice this term. The second time being only today where, instead of the 130 per day for ten days work, I have instead been paid 100 pounds per day. I rang the agency and was told there must have been some "error of communication" with regards to the rate that was agreed between us. Their basic tone was "That's the way it is, so what are you going to do about it?". The last time this happened, I spoke to the head of the school who had no idea the agency were doing this since he was paying the same rate to them (170 quid per day) that he always had. I got my missing pay as a consequence. However, presumably, by way of punishment, I then didn't get a day of work out of the agency for a month. Or, at least, I didn't get a day of teaching work. They did offer me, however, a couple of days as a "cover supervisor". These are being used more and more in schools at the moment,. They are basically unqualified teaching assistants who are used to cover lessons. But, since they are not required to set work or to mark it, they do not need to have QTS (qualified teacher status). It's basically a loophole in the law, This means they are paid 47 quid a day. In desperation, least month, I took two of these days on. However, when I got to the school, they knew nothing of this "cover supervisor" arrangement and so I had to do exactly the same job I would do as a teacher. Again, I informed the head of what my agency were up to. The result being no more work for another 3 weeks. Until, that is, this last post, where I have been f***ed over yet again.

I am at my f***ing wit's end with it

edit to add:

Sorry for the rant, It's a bit off topic really.........

EDIT BY ADAM2, Yes it is a bit off topic, but it is certainly a proper subject for discussion, so I have moved this post and those following to a dedicated thread.

Post by **kenneal - lagger** » 12 Dec 2014, 18:01

Take the Agency to the Small Claims Court. You had a verbal contract with them to pay you a certain amount and they have reneged on it. the publicity won't do them any good, although it might not help you either.

Little John · Post by **Little John** » 12 Dec 2014, 18:09

kenneal - lagger wrote:Take the Agency to the Small Claims Court. You had a verbal contract with them to pay you a certain amount and they have reneged on it. the publicity won't do them any good, although it might not help you either.

A verbal agreement over the phone? That is going to be worthless since it'll be my word against their and, whatever the outcome of a small claims court claim, I will be blacklisted with just about every other agency who is pulling this kind of stunt. Which, I would guess, will be a fair few of them since this agency is not is not a small one and so will set the market tone that many others will then be forced to follow in order to remain competitive.

Post by **kenneal - lagger** » 12 Dec 2014, 18:24

I make verbal agreement on fees and this type of agreement has been upheld in court. Charging £170 a day and only paying out £100 is a rip off and should be exposed. Have you thought about going to one of the TV programs like Rip Off Britain about it. They would investigate and give you anonymity. It really is corporate thieving and should be exposed.

3rdRock · Post by **3rdRock** » 12 Dec 2014, 18:50

Steve, can't you get an agreement from the agency in writing?

Little John · Post by **Little John** » 12 Dec 2014, 19:34

Shortfall wrote:Steve, can't you get an agreement from the agency in writing?

Nope, they are assiduously avoiding giving one in writing. My next step is to either look for another agency, with potentially the same problem, or to record all telephone conversations with my current agency. Trouble is, I think it is a criminal offence to record a conversation without informing the other party that you are about to do so. But, if I did inform them I was going to record all conversations, they would probably simply not give me any more work.

Need to find another agency and hope they are not as big a bunch of bastards.

3rdRock · Post by **3rdRock** » 12 Dec 2014, 19:43

Best of luck. I hope that 2015 proves to be more lucrative for both you and your family.

another_exlurker · Post by **another_exlurker** » 13 Dec 2014, 01:06

No wonder you're stressed mate. That's f***ing deplorable.

Are you a member of any of the teaching unions, would they be able to help?

Tarrel · Post by **Tarrel** » 13 Dec 2014, 22:26

+1. Totally deplorable.

A bit left-field I know, but...could you start your own agency, run on ethical lines? Sounds like the Heads of the schools are prepared to pay a reasonable rate to the agencies, but it's the agencies who are trying to make a quick buck.

Are there any Heads with whom you have developed a strong enough relationship to allow you to offer them a "half way" proposition, in which they pay "Steve Cook Associates" a rate midway between the rate they pay the agency and the rate the agency pays you? You could then find some like-minded teachers to have on your books, not so as to expand and make a massive profit, but so as to have the flexibility to offer an effective service to the schools.

You could make a list of all the things that fall short of the mark with the current agencies (e.g. lack of written agreement, use of unqualified teaching assistants), and the potential negative impact this has on the service the school receives. Then determine to fix all these things in your own agency, and use the fact as your unique selling proposition.

Just a thought.

peaceful_life · Post by **peaceful_life** » 13 Dec 2014, 22:58

Tarrel wrote:+1. Totally deplorable.

A bit left-field I know, but...could you start your own agency, run on ethical lines? Sounds like the Heads of the schools are prepared to pay a reasonable rate to the agencies, but it's the agencies who are trying to make a quick buck.

Are there any Heads with whom you have developed a strong enough relationship to allow you to offer them a "half way" proposition, in which they pay "Steve Cook Associates" a rate midway between the rate they pay the agency and the rate the agency pays you? You could then find some like-minded teachers to have on your books, not so as to expand and make a massive profit, but so as to have the flexibility to offer an effective service to the schools.

You could make a list of all the things that fall short of the mark with the current agencies (e.g. lack of written agreement, use of unqualified teaching assistants), and the potential negative impact this has on the service the school receives. Then determine to fix all these things in your own agency, and use the fact as your unique selling proposition.

Just a thought.

I was just about to suggest similar regarding going direct as self employed/freelance, but your suggestion of setting up a ethical agency is even better, I'm sure any decent head writing the cheques out would much rather deal with securely paid, therefore happier, staff. Never know......they might just happen to mention it in passing to other cheque writers too.....

Good post Tarrel.

another_exlurker · Post by **another_exlurker** » 14 Dec 2014, 00:08

Tarrel wrote:+1. Totally deplorable.

A bit left-field I know, but...could you start your own agency, run on ethical lines? Sounds like the Heads of the schools are prepared to pay a reasonable rate to the agencies, but it's the agencies who are trying to make a quick buck.

Are there any Heads with whom you have developed a strong enough relationship to allow you to offer them a "half way" proposition, in which they pay "Steve Cook Associates" a rate midway between the rate they pay the agency and the rate the agency pays you? You could then find some like-minded teachers to have on your books, not so as to expand and make a massive profit, but so as to have the flexibility to offer an effective service to the schools.

You could make a list of all the things that fall short of the mark with the current agencies (e.g. lack of written agreement, use of unqualified teaching assistants), and the potential negative impact this has on the service the school receives. Then determine to fix all these things in your own agency, and use the fact as your unique selling proposition.

Just a thought.

Bloody good idea that.

Post by **kenneal - lagger** » 15 Dec 2014, 02:10

A supply teacher Co-op?

Tarrel · Post by **Tarrel** » 15 Dec 2014, 10:16

kenneal - lagger wrote:A supply teacher Co-op?

Funnily enough, I was thinking along similar lines. Here's a model that worked for me. Not exactly a co-op, but similar.

A few years ago, a Canadian friend and I decided to set up a corporate learning and development business in Canada. We set the business up as a limited company, with 50/50 ownership. The thinking was that we each had something specific to offer. I was the content-creator and he was the "boots on the ground" in Canada, with knowledge of the local market.

We charged our services, for training development and delivery, on a per day basis. We agreed that whatever rate we charged the customer per day, we, as individuals, would invoice the company at 80%. So, if I authored a course and we charged the customer $1000, I would invoice our company $800. If he subsequently delivered it and we charged the customer $2000, he would invoice our company $1600. The "profit" accrued in the company and was used to cover things like accountancy fees, marketing, travel, etc.

The company paid tax on the net profit, in Canada, and we each paid tax in our respective countries on our invoiced earnings, as self-employed individuals. We agreed that the accrued capital in the company, after tax, would be owned 50/50 by us.

This worked really well for us. We formed the business in 2003 and it is still going now, although we have wound the activities down a lot. We could have easily added a third or more people if, say, they had something to bring to the party, such as knowledge of another industry that we could have branched into.

frayne · Post by **frayne** » 15 Dec 2014, 10:57

Well, that 200 or 400 increase is reasonable for other cover expenses.