OTHER McKENZIE FRIENDS BUSINESSES:

It recently came to my attention that there are a handful of 'McKenzie Friend' businesses/companies operating and/or advertising as a recruitment agency/a temporary work agency/a staffing company/an employment business. They are charging McKenzie Friends a fee to get work. Naturally, this is not publicised on their websites. In the UK, it's generally illegal for employment agencies to charge job seekers a fee for finding them work. This is outlined in the Employment Agencies Act 1973.

I refer to them as 'rogue businesses', as they are exploiting Professional Mckenzie Friends, (also known as fee-charging McKenzie Friends.) They publish pictures of their McKenzie Friends to attract enquiries, but often, when you think you have emailed an enquiry direct to your chosen McKenzie Friend, your enquiry is actually funnelled to and screened by that agency operator instead.

RED FLAGS

If you notice a business operating this way, it could be a red flag that they are not operating lawfully. However, it is a matter for you to investigate how they operate yourself, as not all of the businesses/companies operating as McKenzie Friend service providers are operating unlawfully.

Not only are these rogue businesses exploiting McKenzie Friends, they are advertising themselves using terms and words which I invented many years ago, and which I own the copyright to, and have registered with the Trade Marks Registry, and they are promoting themselves using my registered trade mark text, without my permission.

DISCLAIMER:

The Family Law Clinic Ltd operates within the law, and we are not associated in any way whatsoever, with any other business/company operating as a 'McKenzie Friend' service provider/ agency/directory/temp work agency, or other employment business, who are operating unlawfully. I do not want to be associated with McKenzie Friend businesses who operate under the legal radar. It has taken me over 20 years to develop and build the 'Professional McKenzie Friend brand', and during that time I have acquired an excellent reputation, and have an excellent stream of Testimonials. I do not want that ruined by rogue businesses offering similar services.

You can easily check by comparing my registered trademarks, and mark text, against their advertising.

When you're working through an agency, it's important to know if you're classed as an 'employee' or a 'worker'. 

It affects what you're entitled to and what your obligations are.

If you're self-employed and take on an assignment through an agency, this could mean you're classed as an employee or worker for the duration of the assignment.