What compliancy checks should I do before working with a recruitment agency?

If you are thinking of using a recruitment agency to help you find staff for your business, there are a few things you should check to make sure they are compliant with the law. This checklist will help you make sure the recruitment agency you are using is compliant with the relevant laws and regulations.

1. Is that the recruitment agency registered with the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) or any other relevant trading office in your district. The OFT regulates the recruitment industry and ensures that agencies comply with the law.
2. Does the recruitment agency have a licence to operate. This licence is issued by the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) or other institutions and allows the agency to operate legally.
3. Is the recruitment agency a member of a professional body such as the REC. This ensures that the agency is subject to professional standards and codes of conduct.
4. Does the recruitment agency has insurance in place. This insurance protects you from any legal liability if something goes wrong with the recruitment process.
5. Is the recruitment agency compliant with the Data Protection Act or other privacy related acts like the GDPR. This means that they will only collect, use and disclose your personal data in accordance with the law.
6. Is the agency compliant with the Equality Act or at least has discrimination prevention guidelines. This means that they will not discriminate against you on the basis of your race, religion, sex, age or disability.
7. Is the recruitment agency compliant with the Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate (EASI) or other standards act. The EASI is the government body that regulates the recruitment industry and ensures that agencies comply with the law.