Human Resources Division

Getting paid

Timesheets

All temps are required to complete a weekly timesheet stating all start and finish times for each day's work.

Your wage is initially paid out of TES's own funds. At the end of the month we invoice the department where you have been working. Because of the strict financial deadlines that TES has to meet we would be extremely grateful if you could submit your timesheets on a weekly basis. The deadline is 3pm on Friday. If you miss this deadline you will not be paid in the next week's payroll, but will instead have to wait another week to get paid.

Notes on filling out timesheets:

  • Please ensure that you always put your job reference number on each timesheet (the reference number can be found on your booking form). This number identifies both you and your job — so it's important that you put it on.
  • Please make sure that it is accurate. An error on the timesheet might result in the wrong amount being paid.
  • Your pay is worked out in 15 minute blocks. Therefore, please ensure that your daily working hours can be broken down into 15 minute intervals.
  • Use the ‘Comments Box’ to relay any information which you need to pass onto us. (eg changes in hours worked)

Pay

You are paid on a weekly basis, one week in arrears. Your wages are usually paid directly into your bank account on a Thursday (some banks may take an extra day for the payment to clear).

We send out weekly payslips to your home address; these will usually arrive a few days after you have received your pay. If you have any queries about hours worked or rate of pay please contact us on (01223) 332348.

Tax

When you start a temporary assignment with us you will need to provide a P45 from your previous employer. If you do not have this you are able to complete a tax form (available from the TES office) so that the appropriate tax deductions can be made.

If you are a student you may be able to sign a P38 form which prevents tax being deducted from your salary. However, P38 forms can only be signed by students who will be returning to their studies after their vacation period. If, as a student, you work during term time; you will need to sign a tax form instead.

If you hold a National Insurance Certificate of reduced or no liability (Certificate of Election/Age Exception) you will need to bring it to the office so that we can forward the details to our payroll department.

For any tax queries please contact the payroll department on (01223) 332235 and ask for Weekly Pay.

If you need to contact the local tax office for advice or complicated tax issues, the details are below.

Cambridgeshire Area Tax Office
Hereward House
Broadway
Peterborough
PE1 1TJ
Tel.
0845 3021453

National Insurance

If you do not have a National Insurance number you will need to apply for one.

The Department of Work and Pensions will call you for an interview. At this interview you will need to prove that you are working or looking for work. You can start work without a National Insurance number, but you must apply for one straight away. Most temps take their booking form to the interview as proof that they are working.

All temporary workers who earn over a weekly threshold must pay National Insurance, this includes students who are not liable to pay tax.

Sickness and sick pay

If you are sick and not able to work please notify the TES office immediately. You should indicate the expected period of absence and keep us informed.

Any sickness absences must be recorded on your timesheet.

If you have a sickness period which lasts for more than 4 days you may be entitled to Statutory Sick Pay. Please fill out a CHRIS/73 TES Temporary Workers' Sickness Self Certificate and send/fax it to the TES Office.

Entitlement to Statutory Sick Pay depends upon how much you have earned and your length of sickness. From April 2012 the Statutory Sick Pay weekly rate is £85.85. If you would like to claim Statutory Sick Pay and you have been unwell for a period of 7 days or over you must submit a doctor's note to the TES office.

Holiday pay

You are entitled to holiday pay which is equivalent to 28 days per year for a full time assignment. For every week you work you will accrue some paid holiday, which is recorded in our database. For a 36.5 hour working week you will accumulate just over 4 hours of holiday pay per week. The holiday year runs from 1 October to 30 September and no holiday can be carried over to the next year. We will automatically pay out any remaining holiday at the end of September.

If you would like to take a day off and you have asked your supervisor for permission please let us know via the relevant box on your timesheet. We will pay you for that day as long as you have saved up enough hours, if you annotate how many hours of leave you wish to be paid for in the appropriate section. Please ensure that you give your Department sufficient notice if you plan to take time off.

We are unable to pay out your holiday entitlement when you are off work through sickness.

We will pay any outstanding accrued holiday to you at the end of each assignment.

If you want to find out how many hours holiday entitlement you have accrued please call 32348 or e-mail temps@admin.cam.ac.uk.

Stakeholder pension

As a temp, you are entitled to join the University's Stakeholder Pension scheme. If you would like more information on joining this scheme please contact the TES office and we will be happy to send you an information pack and application details.