Temporary staff benefit with Legitas

THOUSANDS of Scottish temporary workers could soon be enjoying benefits associated with a permanent job thanks to a business being launched by Edinburgh-based employment services firm Legitas.

The company’s new division, called Health-E, is targeting the healthcare sector, where it says that employers are increasingly offering temporary, rather than permanent, contracts in the face of tightening budgets.

Health-E will act as an “employer” for the temps, providing benefits such as holiday and sick pay, maternity and paternity rights, and access to a pension scheme.

It will also work with an accountancy firm to help the employees claim expenses against tax, as well as offering human resources support.

Legitas says that, as far as it is are aware, no other business is providing such employment services for temporary healthcare workers.

Emma Allen, who will head the new business, said it will initially seek to work with employment agencies, from where it will get its fees, but would also like to work directly with local authorities in the future.

The firm already offers advice to about 20,000 workers in other sectors.