Many schools are not paying their supply teachers

Public sector contingent workers who are on live assignments but cannot work due to Covid-19, should continue to be paid at least 80% of their salaries by their employer – and should not be furloughed.

This includes supply teachers working in state funded schools. However, according to the Association of Professional Staffing Companies (APSCo), many schools have either misunderstood – or are ignoring – this latest guidance from the government.

In short, this instruction requires that all of the public sector continues to pay contingent workers 80% of their rates, via the relevant recruitment firm, together with the pro-rated margin.

This is an attempt by the government to ensure temporary workers (whether agency worker, umbrella worker or a contractor working through a personal services company) continue to receive most of their contractual earnings during any period when they can’t work due to Covid-19.

Samantha Hurley, Operations Director at APSCo, commented, “We have had reports of schools asking recruitment firms to furlough supply teachers and then claim the 80% of pay back from the Government which goes completely against the rules and is akin to asking recruiters, which have seen their activity slashed, to basically act as a bank for the public sector.

“The guidance clearly states that payment of the temporary worker during this period should be funded via the public sector organisation that has the temporary worker on assignment and it is incumbent upon schools to follow these rules.”

To find out more about contracting please contact Jaime on 01442 795 100 or email jaime.thorpe@contractorumbrella.com.