which contributes to financial stability through business cycles. Hays operates in 33 countries. Involvement in price-fixing In 2009 the Office of Fair Trading imposed a £30.4m fine against Hays for its involvement in price-fixing. The firm, along with five other recruitment firms, formed a cartel called the Construction Recruitment Forum which agreed to boycott Parc, a new company that had entered the market in 2003 to act as an intermediary between construction firms and recruitment firms. The six firms received fines totalling £39.3m, Hays receiving the biggest fine. Hays had its fine cut by the Competition Appeal Tribunal from £30.4m to £5.9m following an appeal against the level of a fine imposed by the Office of Fair Trading in September 2009. References External links Companies based in the London Borough of Camden Consulting firms established in 1867 Employment agencies of the United Kingdom English brands Companies listed on the London Stock Exchange Human resource management consulting firms