How come temps have zero rights?

I'm temping at the minute and I just recieved my paycheque for the month of December. Now, I got paid for the 15 days that I did work (I took one off to go to my grandfathers funeral) so I suppose I probably have nothing to complain about but I really did think that they would pay me for the two bank holidays Christmas and Boxing day. I already have to pay 5 weeks rent out of 3 weeks wages because we get paid at the end of the month and it's just this month that we're getting paid early because we'll be closed next week, (which is why it's 3 weeks wages) so after the 5 weeks rent it leaves me with less than 鈧?00 left. Which is all the money I'll have untill the end of January. I'll need to pay bills and buy food out of it.
Am I being selfish or does anyone else think that even temps should get paid for Christmas day when the offices will be closed so we couldn't work if we wanted to???

Sorry but bacchus - in spite of your previous track record of good answers - my man you are wrong on this one. I am in the UK - in the IT industry - and permanent jobs are like gold dust - they will only employ you on contract - once you take into account bank holidays - 4 weeks annual leave - up to 6 weeks full sick pay - we actually earn less than a permie even if on the surface we earn more - plus we have ZERO rights - get treated like sh!t and have to put careers on hold while we do it.

i dont get paid for bank holidays and im a fully contracted staff member. its just the way it goes really; but i agree that it bites! x

I guess that is just one of the disadvantages you need to expect if you choose to be a temp rather than work on a permanent contract. I don't know about office temps, but I do know about supply teachers (or substitute teachers in USA I think) ...
they complain about similar things, for example, over here they do not get paid over the school holidays. However, they fail to take into account things like:
1. They do not have to do any lesson planning
2. They leave work at 3.30 while the rest of us are still there at 6.00 and take work home with us every night
3. They daily rate they get paid is far more than a teacher on full term contract, and their workload is less that half of ours.

So I don't think they have any grounds to complain about not being paid over the holidays - if they want this they should take on the workload of a full time job.

I don't know whether a similar thing applies in offices, but I am guessing there are some similar perks to be being a temp rather than a full time employee, am I right?

Alas, I have done some temping in the past and your situation sounds very similar. Unfortunately (in the USA, I don't know about where you live - the UK?) this is just part of the agreement.

The upside of temping for me was the fact that I was not expected to give notice when a full-time job became available. I hope this will be true for you soon!

Temps don't have the same rights as full time members of staff because:
1) They aren't members of the trade union
2) They are there to replace members of staff who are on sick leave or maternity/paternity leave. If you start paying them for being off sick/holiday as well it becomes unfeasible.

You knew the score when you signed the contract of employment - no use moaning now.

unfortunatly companies only pay temps for actual hours worked. it saves them money! its the cheapest way of employing labour.

Not to sound harsh, but whether you can meet rent is besides the point. You were paid for the days that you did work. Nothing unfair about that. Calendars and holidays can't be changed to suit your working schedule and financial needs.

A temp should not be paid. They are temp, the come in and do the job for the days pay. They can leave at any time. The company can fire them at any time. They have not put in the time, or shown any dedication to the company. If you need more money you should get a long term job.
Sorry to be blunt, but that is how I see it.
B

I work for a local authority in the UK and have been a temp within the same council for 3.5 years!!!! My post was newly created at the time so they did not know if it was goiong to work or not!!
After 3 years they put my job out to advert as they couldn't slot me into the post due to equal opportunities. I applied and was interviewed and selected!!!! After all that i start permanently in the new year.
Like you i have no benefits and it's really fustrating as the only people that benefit from this are the agency.

Temps are employers of the agency they work for not the company they are working at, the law has changed to allow for holiday and sick pay, but its upto the agency to implement them.

Chosing to work temp/contract rather then permanent is a career choice.. so you may not get the benefits of an permament employee, but you do get the perks of being a temp one, eg,
usually a temp employer (if they have marketed themselves right) get more money then if they worked on a permanent contract
they can pick and chose when you work
if they do overtime you get paid, whereas most permanent employees have it written in their contract that this is expected of them... list goes on....