The Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations 2003 (the Conduct Regulations), alongside the Employment Agencies Act 1973, govern the recruitment industry in the United Kingdom.
They aim to protect UK work-seekers and end clients by setting standards for employment agencies and businesses.
When you’re a contractor employed by Exceed, you’re automatically ‘opted in’ to the Conduct Regulations through your contract of employment – so you receive the information, payments and holidays you deserve!
We answer your Conduct Regs FAQs in this article, but if there’s anything you’re still unsure about, please Contact Us.
Who do the Conduct Regulations apply to?
- Work-seekers – individuals seeking permanent or temporary work, including those operating through umbrella companies or limited companies.
- Recruitment agencies | employment businesses – entities responsible for placing work-seekers with end clients.
- End clients – businesses hiring workers through recruitment agencies or employment businesses.
What protection do they give work-seekers?
For work-seekers who are ‘opted in’ to the Conduct Regulations:
- A Key Information Document (KID) must be provided before entering into a contract, detailing pay rates, holiday entitlement and contract type.
- Agencies cannot charge work-seekers for finding them work (except in specific industries like modelling and entertainment).
- Workers must be paid for the hours worked, regardless of timesheet issues or end client payment delays.
What does ‘opting out’ mean?
Work-seekers can choose to opt out of the regulations and their protections at their own discretion – as long as an assignment does not involve vulnerable individuals (such as children, elderly people, or those with disabilities), in which case opting out is prohibited.
Limited companies can also choose to opt out of the Conduct Regulations, but they must do so entirely, and not selectively.
Agencies cannot mandate that work-seekers opt out. Recruitment agencies and umbrella companies must respect the work-seeker’s choice regarding the Conduct Regulations and ensure compliance accordingly; and end clients should not pressure agencies to supply only those who have opted out.
Exceed contractors are opted in!
When you’re a contractor employed by Exceed, you’re automatically ‘opted in’ to the Conduct Regulations through your contract of employment – so you receive the information, payments and holidays you deserve!
Recruitment agencies cannot mandate that you opt out; but if you wish to opt out of the Conduct Regulations, please complete your agency’s ‘opt out form’ and email it to the agency and Exceed BEFORE your assignment starts. It’s not possible to opt out part way through an assignment.
If there’s anything you’re still unsure about, please contact our friendly team on 0800 612 8787.
