Individuals
Workers may have noticeably poor personal hygiene.
Do the workers have adequate uniform? Are they without a hair net or steel toe shoes adequate for their role? Lack of proper training?
Do owners seem evasive? As if they are buying time so workers can leave?
Does the worker know the address of where they live? Do they live in private rented and often cramped accommodation?
Does someone seem to be overseeing low-skilled workers? An enforcer may often be overseeing work.
Is there evidence to suggest workers must pay for tools, food or accommodation via deductions from their pay?
Sings of emotional and physical abuse present in workers e.g. being frightened, withdrawn or confused.
Lack of freedom of movement or constant accompaniment.
Individual gives false personal information or cannot produce any personal information.
Someone other than the worker has the worker’s legal and immigration documents.
Groups of workers of similar backgrounds with a leader who seems to have coached them.
No contracts, not adhering to the National Minimum Wage or not being paid at all.
Do individuals get transported to and from work possibly with other people in the same vehicle?
Individual is unable or afraid of accepting payment.
Individuals work longer than usual hours.
Location
Is access to the backrooms of the property restricted or the doors locked? This may be used as accommodation for workers.
Is there a noticeable difference in cleanliness from the front of the property where the public go, and the back for staff areas?
Is there a lack of suitable equipment? e.g. lack of waterproofs at a car wash
Are workers picked up in vans/minibuses at unusual hours of day or night?