During busy times, companies turn to temp agencies for help. Eu Workers can bring in additional workers to handle seasonal workloads, add specialists to project teams and help with specific projects. They cost less than permanent employees and don’t require any long-term commitments. But temps often face lower wages and lack the benefits of direct hires, including health insurance and workplace safety training. Many also report being subject to retaliation for speaking up at work.

The typical temp agency has a pool of candidates who have been interviewed and screened for their skills, qualifications and availability to work. When a client company needs workers with specific skills, the temp agency chooses them from their roster and assigns them to a job site. They’re employees of the agency (although legally they can be considered to be “supplied” rather than employed by the client).

The Importance of Soft Skills in Temporary Employment

Some temp agencies are general specialists, offering a wide range of basic jobs like office and production line workers, security guards or janitorial staff. Others are more narrowly focused, specializing in highly technical fields like natural gas pipeline safety engineers or paralegals.

As the demand for temp workers increases, the role of staffing agencies is transforming and their relationships with temporary workers are becoming increasingly complex. They’re being asked to manage a greater number of worker-related legal issues, ranging from pay and overtime regulations to discrimination and safety rules. And they’re being challenged to distinguish between employees and independent contractors, as misclassification can have serious financial repercussions for all parties.