The idea of a temp agency has been around for over a century. Originally, these agencies supplied mainly domestic help for short term employment. Years ago when families commonly moved their entire household from the city to their country home every spring, it was usually done without taking the regular staff with them - they needed to stay behind to maintain the city home. In the country, they would be met by temporary domestic help who would work for the duration of the family's stay.
A hundred years later, temps are used but not just for domestic help. Every type of company in every country has used temps for one reason or another. The temp industry has become a reckoning force in the business world, not only in the US but in every civilized country the world over.
Although the term "temp" has garnered a strange reputation over the years, there are many people who love the temp industry and work temp jobs for years at a time. They like the flexibility of being able to take time off when they want, they like meeting new people, and if they ever move they simply find another temp job in their new town.
Typically, temps are used during heavy work load periods or even seasonal changes such as holidays. Although the fee structure and markup for these agencies sounds like they can be expensive, these fees are still low enough to save money in the long run when compared to employer paid expenses that are mandated by the state such as taxes and workman's comp insurance.
Applicants applying to these temp agencies are frequently given the opportunity to take free classes and courses. There is a wide range of topics to choose from including basic office work to more advanced studies in accounting, graphic design or call center functions. In addition to offering these courses, the applicants are tested and screened to make sure they are placed only in jobs of interest to them. These screening services also help companies determine what skills are needed for each particular job or position.
If it doesn't work out, the agency isn't responsible for providing refunds or guaranteed replacements, and the employer hasn't incurred any expensive hiring costs that can't be easily recuperated.
Over the years many companies have tried to keep temps for unrealistically long periods of time. They don't want the financial obligations of incurring heavy expenses like paying for benefits and workman's comp insurance. Temps rallied for support and laws were finally passed limited the amount of time a company could treat a temp as a temp. After a year most states now require that temps be given all the rights and privileges of a full time employee doing identical work.
New laws have been enacted to protect temps that never seem to get hired. These individuals now must be given the same benefits as all full time employees at that company doing similar work. No longer can companies assume that a temp will be work for years without being treated like a permanent recruitment.
A hundred years later, temps are used but not just for domestic help. Every type of company in every country has used temps for one reason or another. The temp industry has become a reckoning force in the business world, not only in the US but in every civilized country the world over.
Although the term "temp" has garnered a strange reputation over the years, there are many people who love the temp industry and work temp jobs for years at a time. They like the flexibility of being able to take time off when they want, they like meeting new people, and if they ever move they simply find another temp job in their new town.
Typically, temps are used during heavy work load periods or even seasonal changes such as holidays. Although the fee structure and markup for these agencies sounds like they can be expensive, these fees are still low enough to save money in the long run when compared to employer paid expenses that are mandated by the state such as taxes and workman's comp insurance.
Applicants applying to these temp agencies are frequently given the opportunity to take free classes and courses. There is a wide range of topics to choose from including basic office work to more advanced studies in accounting, graphic design or call center functions. In addition to offering these courses, the applicants are tested and screened to make sure they are placed only in jobs of interest to them. These screening services also help companies determine what skills are needed for each particular job or position.
If it doesn't work out, the agency isn't responsible for providing refunds or guaranteed replacements, and the employer hasn't incurred any expensive hiring costs that can't be easily recuperated.
Over the years many companies have tried to keep temps for unrealistically long periods of time. They don't want the financial obligations of incurring heavy expenses like paying for benefits and workman's comp insurance. Temps rallied for support and laws were finally passed limited the amount of time a company could treat a temp as a temp. After a year most states now require that temps be given all the rights and privileges of a full time employee doing identical work.
New laws have been enacted to protect temps that never seem to get hired. These individuals now must be given the same benefits as all full time employees at that company doing similar work. No longer can companies assume that a temp will be work for years without being treated like a permanent recruitment.
About the Author:
Since 1951, placement agencies has assisted organizations solve wide-ranging human performance problems, staff their organizations efficiently and effectively, and realize targeted objectives.
