Birmingham, 9 December 2025 – Job&Talent is aware that a number of inaccurate statements continue to circulate regarding our role in the industrial action taking place in Birmingham. We want to set out our position below to ensure the public has access to clear and accurate information.
No unlawful backfillingÂ
Replacing Birmingham City Council employees who are taking part in official industrial action is unlawful, and Job&Talent has never supplied workers for this purpose. Job&Talent’s support to Birmingham City Council had been in place well before the industrial action began, and staffing levels provided by Job&Talent at the depots have remained consistent throughout the period of the dispute.
As previously outlined in our June 2025 statement, the Employment Agency Standards (EAS) Inspectorate within the Department for Business and Trade conducted a review of our practices, with Job&Talent’s full cooperation. The review identified no concerns and found Job&Talent to be operating in full compliance with all legal and regulatory requirements.
No blacklisting occurred
Job&Talent does not engage in, support or condone any form of blacklisting. No worker is, or would ever be, denied opportunities on the basis of lawful participation in industrial action. Birmingham City Council conducted a thorough investigation and confirmed that no blacklisting took place.
No evidence supports bullying claims
Job&Talent takes the welfare, dignity and safety of our workers extremely seriously. We prioritise a safe working environment and maintain regular communication with our workforce to ensure they feel supported. Any concerns raised are reviewed through our established reporting channels and addressed promptly.
We have reviewed the allegations in question and have no record or evidence of any bullying or harassment that has been raised about Job&Talent’s treatment of workers. These claims do not reflect the standards or values of our organisation.
In November 2025, the Recruitment & Employment Confederation (REC) carried out an independent review into the bullying allegations reported in the media. After considering our detailed evidence, the REC confirmed that there was no breach of its Code of Professional Practice. The REC also noted that the allegations lacked specific details relating to Job&Talent and that our actions throughout the Birmingham City Council strike were appropriate, well documented and fully compliant with regulations. This independent conclusion from the professional body reinforces our commitment to high standards and fair treatment in compliance with the REC Code.
No significant strike participation among Job&Talent workers
We acknowledge the recent ballot outcome. A small number of Job&Talent workers have chosen to participate in the action on a voluntary basis. The majority of our workforce in Birmingham continues to work as normal. In line with UK legislation, we are permitted to maintain existing service levels where this does not involve replacing Birmingham City Council employees who are taking part in industrial action.
No GDPR breach
The “league table” referenced by the union was not created or issued by Job&Talent. It did not come from our systems, data or staff. As we had no involvement in producing or displaying it, no GDPR breach could have occurred on our part. Birmingham City Council has confirmed it was not produced by Job&Talent and has addressed the matter directly.
Context on the union dispute
The trade dispute has been raised against Birmingham City Council by their employees, and a small number of our workers have chosen to participate in the industrial action. Our focus continues to be on maintaining the service levels that were in place before the industrial action. We remain committed to acting transparently and in full compliance with all legal and regulatory requirements, and we remain open to constructive dialogue.
Job&Talent will continue to work openly with regulators, public bodies and the media to ensure that accurate information is available. We will continue to challenge misinformation where necessary. Further updates will be provided as needed.
