Channel 4 Dispatches' investigation into umbrella companies: One Click Umbrella's response

Jan. 23, 2015 - PRLog -- Unfortunately, the documentary did not show how the vast majority of compliant umbrella companies work for the benefit of many thousands of highly skilled workers across the UK – instead it showed how some companies can take advantage of complicated mechanisms to avoid certain parts of employment law and minimum wage legislation.

One Click Umbrella is the first and only British umbrella company to carry the Safe Umbrella badge, a new audit scheme launched by the Institute of Recruiters and international law firm Eversheds in July 2014. They set out a strict industry best practice criteria for umbrella companies, protecting both the agencies and contractors alike.

Mike Keeling, Operations Director at One Click Umbrella says "Compliant umbrella companies, like One Click, adhere to all minimum wage legislation and do not use workers’ expenses to make rates up to National Minimum Wage. We also provide all of the benefits of being an employee of a large organisation, on a true contract of employment – Statutory Sick Pay, Statutory Maternity Pay, health and safety back up and access to workplace pensions and Childcare Voucher arrangements.

We hope that the recent discussion paper, launched by HMRC in December last year will go a long way towards levelling the playing field for compliant umbrella providers and enable the authorities to clamp down on businesses that break the law."

ENDS