THOUSANDS of temporary workers could be missing out on holiday pay without realising.
Support group IWORK has revealed many might not be getting the pay they deserve as we run into an expensive winter.
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According to the Office of National Statistics, there are 1.6million temporary workers in the UK.
Support organisation IWORK said many of them work through umbrella companies and employment agencies – and they’re not getting told about holiday pay.
This means they won’t know if or how to claim it.
The average annual temp worker salary is £26,000.
So if just 2% of temp workers are missing out on a £3,000 annual holiday pay entitlement based on that figure, it means a whopping £97million is going unclaimed nationwide.
IWORK founder Julia Kermode said: “£97m is a staggering figure, but in reality, it’s very likely just the tip of the iceberg.
“With the cost of living crisis taking hold and people spiralling into debt, it’s vital that temporary workers claim what’s rightfully theirs.”
Inflation hit 10.1% last month, pulling at purse strings and returning to a 40-year high.
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How do I claim?
If you think you’re missing out on annual holiday pay, it’s important to check with your umbrella company or whoever you work with.
You will be entitled to an explanation or support.
They should also tell you how much you might be owed and what happens next.
Rubel Bashir, senior associate at Slater and Gordon, told The Sun: “One of the key benefits of being a ‘worker’ or ‘employee’ as opposed to being self-employed is the entitlement to holiday pay.
“All workers including those that are part-time or work on zero-hour contracts will be entitled to take holidays and receive holiday pay but the calculation of the holiday pay and accrual of the leave will differ based on the hours and days a worker works.
“Workers should request leave and pay and take appropriate advice quickly if an employer refuses as there are short deadlines to bring claims.”
You’re entitled to 5.6 weeks paid holiday if you’re on a zero-hour contract, a temp or engaged in any other kind of assignment with a company.
Your holiday pay is calculated from your average salary over the past year, and sometimes further depending on how much you’ve worked.
You can reclaim outstanding holiday pay even if you’ve now left the company, but you only have three months to do so starting from the time you left.
How far back you can claim payment largely depends on personal circumstances, but the maximum is two years.
More support
If you’re tight for cash and not sure how to get support in the meantime, remember there are a ton of schemes out there to help.
Check if you’re entitled to benefits – those on Universal Credit and older legacy benefits could get over £3,000 in bill support.
There are plenty of energy grants and schemes open to help you out if you’re struggling.
These include:
There’s also the winter fuel payment and Household Support Fund, if these apply to you.
You can also contact the following if you’re really struggling – help is just around the corner:
