Terms and Conditions

On engaging SortYourHelp (“SYH”) to carry out a bespoke search for you (the “Client”) for the placement of any temporary or permanent domestic help (the ”Placement”) it charges an upfront, non-refundable search fee of £175 (the “Search Fee”). A Placement is considered permanent if it exceeds 8 weeks of continuous employment (“Permanent”). A Placement is considered temporary if it is within an 8 week time period (“Temporary”)..

The Search Fee covers:

1. an extensive consultation with the Client;
2. a search criteria agreed with the Client (the “Agreed Search Criteria”);
3. a bespoke search to find a suitable candidate (the “Candidate”);
4. face-to-face or Skype (where applicable) interviews with potential Candidates; and
5. reference and identity checks for all potential Candidates.

In the event that the Client wishes to change the Agreed Search Criteria for any reason after the commencement of a search, including but not limited to a delay in searching on the part of the Client, and a new search is required as a result, a new Search Fee will become payable.

SYH reserves the right to terminate a Search at any time if, for whatever reason, it decides it cannot provide suitable Candidates for the Client. In such case it will reimburse the Search Fee to the Client less any advertising costs or other expenses incurred on behalf of the Client.

The interviewing, acceptance and/or subsequent engagement of a Candidate through SYH will be deemed to be acceptance of these terms and conditions, which are non-negotiable.

Once the Client has had an offer of employment accepted by the Candidate sourced by SYH, a further Placement fee (the “Placement Fee”) will become payable within 14 days of the Candidate’s start date. In the event that the Client decides to extend a Temporary Placement beyond 8 weeks, the difference between the Permanent and Temporary Placement Fee will become payable.

Normally there is no charge for a trial period if this is pre-agreed with SYH. If the Client retains the Candidate beyond the agreed period, SYH reserves the right to charge the Temporary Placement Fee for the whole of the trial period.

In the unlikely event of a Placement being unsuccessful, resulting in the Placement being lawfully terminated by the Client within 8 weeks from the start of the Placement, the Client qualifies for a free replacement Candidate.

If within 4 weeks of the date that the Client has notified SYH of the termination of the Placement, SYH has been unable to find a suitable replacement Candidate (provided that the original Agreed Search Criteria has not been altered and the Client has not unreasonably refused a suitable replacement Candidate), SYH will pay to the Client a pro rata refund (1/8 th of the Placement Fee for each week of the 8 weeks that the Candidate has not worked).

If, during the 4 week period referred to above, the Client employs or engages any recruitment agency or any other recruitment method, the Client is no longer entitled to a refund. This provision is designed to give SYH a reasonable time within which to put forward a suitable replacement Candidate.

The replacement/pro rata refund policy starts at the date of the initial Placement and is not renewable on the replacement Candidate. There is no replacement or refund after the 8 week period has expired. In order for a Client to qualify for a replacement or pro rata refund it must:

1. notify SYH in writing within 48 hours of the termination of the Candidate’s employment, giving the reasons for termination;
2. have made all payments due to SYH by the due dates;
3. confirm in writing that the basis on which the Candidate was employed has not altered in any way from the Agreed Search Criteria; and
4. not be in breach of these terms and conditions.

The Placement Fee however will continue to be payable in full without a replacement or refund if the Candidate leaves as a result of the Client’s failure to comply with the agreed hours, salary, duties and/or the Candidate is unfairly or unreasonably dismissed and/or the working conditions for the Candidate are found to be unreasonable.

A Client engaging a Permanent Candidate should sign a contract with the Candidate confirming the terms of employment. This should include working hours, salary, paid holidays, duties expected and free time agreed. SYH can assist with this process at an additional cost.

SYH acts as a means of introduction only and therefore the Candidate is to be directly employed by the Client. Whilst SYH endeavours to ensure the suitability of any Candidate introduced to the Client by checking his/her references it urges and advises the Client to take up references to his/her own satisfaction as, after the Placement, SYH cannot be held responsible for any loss, damage, delay, clash of personalities, costs or compensations (whether direct, indirect or consequential) arising from or in any way connected with the Placement or from the failure of SYH to find a suitable Candidate. The Client takes the ultimate decision and responsibility in respect of each Placement.

In the event that the Candidate is required to drive the Client’s car it is entirely at the Client’s risk. The Client must ensure that the relevant insurance is checked as valid in every respect to cover this event and remains so whilst the Candidate drives the Client’s vehicle.

As SYH does not directly employ the Candidate it is not able to insist upon DBS checks. However, SYH encourages all potential Candidates to have a DBS check. SYH can carry out DBS checks for potential Candidates at the Client’s request for an additional cost.

Salaries are normally quoted net but should be cited as gross in the contract. The Client is responsible for the Candidate’s Tax, National Insurance and Pension contributions, for obtaining work permits and for satisfying any medical requirements or qualifications required by law.

SYH reserves the right to advertise the Client’s vacancy using any means it deems necessary to source a suitable Candidate, including 3rd party websites. The Client’s identity will be kept confidential, unless otherwise agreed with the Client.

SYH will only collect the Client’s personal information for the purposes of securing a Placement and the Client’s details will not be sold or released to any mailing list or any other interested party. SYH will ensure that any information received from the Client is treated as Private and Confidential.

SYH will ensure that it is compliant with the General Data Protection Regulation 2018 (“GDPR”). SYH will only collect and/or hold the Client and/or the Candidate’s personal information for the purposes of securing a Placement, including for the satisfying any legal, accounting or reporting requirements. The Client and/or the Candidate’s details will not be sold or released to any mailing list or any other interested party. SYH will ensure that any information received from the Client and/or the Candidate is treated as Private and Confidential. Please see our Data Protection Policy.

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