Contract lengths and extensions
How long you can keep a temporary worker for
Temporary agency workers should ideally only be used for specific, one-off projects or to provide cover over a short-term period.
All assignments at Essex County Council (ECC) default to 26 weeks as standard, although you can end the arrangement earlier than this. When you engage a temporary agency worker, you should give them an indication as to how long you will require their services. Temporary agency workers should not be kept for any longer than 24 months in total.
Should you require resource for longer than this, or on an ongoing basis, you should recruit to the requirement on a fixed term contract basis.
If you find that you need a temporary agency worker for longer than expected, then you should seek to convert them to a fixed term contract arrangement and the Resourcing team will support you in doing so.
Temporary agency workers’ assignments should not exceed 24 months. The Resourcing team will alert you if the arrangement looks likely to exceed this period and explore alternative options with you.
Extending a temporary agency worker
Temporary employees and agency workers are extended by the Recruitment Support team.
The Recruitment Support team will typically be in touch with the line manager six weeks in advance of the contract expiry.
If you have any questions or would like to extend your temporary worker in advance please contact recruitment.support@essex.gov.uk.