Should an employer offer me a permanent job if I've been placed with them for a long time?

If you're an agency worker on long term placement with a company, there's no obligation on that company to offer you a job directly employed by them.

Whilst it might make better HR sense for them to offer you a permanent job, many employers actively choose to keep long term temps working with them for a number of reasons, such as trying to avoid some employer responsibilities for employment rights.

Some employers may even be reluctant to offer you a permanent job as the agency is entitled to charge a "temp to perm" fee in certain circumstances, to compensate them for losing you to the company.

The employer is also not obliged to allow you to apply for internal vacancies at that company if you are a temp on placement with them, although many will. Discuss the matter with your manager, and talk to the union representative for support and advice, if there is one in the company.