Pros
Many shifts available especially at Christmas. Possible to earn money just in university holidays. Occasionally shifts are enjoyable, particularly ones for small private events. Increased pay offered when they can't find enough staff to work for shifts.
Cons
Poor pay (national minimum wage rather than London living wage - which government recommends any which others have started to pay). Often nasty manages at events. Treated like rubbish and spoken down to. Poor training - 2 hrs in head office watching videos and having bare basics of serving demonstrated. Expected to remember all info or will get in trouble. Someone mentioned that getting a free cab home after 12 is a 'benefit' it is not a benefit, it is the law. A couple of times I have - and others - actually had to take a night bus home as no one has picked up when I phoned the emergency line to ask about getting a cab. (Very) Frequent cancellations - sometimes just a few hours before shift is too begin (annoying when you are organising your time and finances around them). It seems probable that they overbook much of the time as an insurance (with the hope that some people will cancel and they can fine them!) and they have to lay a lot of people off. Large fines if employee cancels any shift without giving notice 4+ days of notice. As if this is not bad enough - holiday pay must be requested within a particular timeframe online otherwise they will not pay up. This application process is included in the contract details, however should you forget or be misinformed by head office (as I was) then they will tell you that it is too late for them to do anything about it and it's not their problem. Just to make it clear - this is illegal so I advise all employes who have been caught out to get in touch with ACAS if this happens to you. Please note that it is illegal to indicate I'm the contract that holiday pay may not be granted for any reason - employees are ALWAYS entitled to their pay. The above advice goes for all agency staff, I have heard bad things about other staffing agencies too. To put it plainly - just completely avoid this company - period!
