The Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 regulates the number of overtime hours an employee can work in a week at a different short time or full-time job. In general, any time beyond 40 hours per week is overtime and must be compensated.
If a temporary staffing agency employs you, your entire job might be temp-to-hire with no guarantee of anything long-term. However, the reality is, some temp agencies do provide overtime pay. It's common to see this among the most well-known temp agencies in the United States.
Table Of Contents:
- How Much Do Temp Agencies Take Out Of Your Paycheck?
- How To Register With A Temp Agency?
- How To Negotiate Salary With A Temp Agency?
- Do Temp Agencies Pay Holiday Pay?
- Do Temp Agencies Provide Health Insurance?
- Tips To Use A Temp Agency To Hire Employees
How Much Do Temp Agencies Take Out Of Your Paycheck?
The agencies charge the businesses a fee for each temporary employee placed depending on the position and duration of employment. The way the contract is set up, the more temporary employees the agency provides, the more they get paid. It is why it's in the interest of temp agencies to fill positions quickly. Therefore, the money isn't taken from a temporary employees' paycheck.
It's just that the employee receives their salary after deductions are made. However, after deciding on an hourly charge that the company is inclined to pay the employee, the temp agency provides markup to this amount.
It is this markup and not the salary that is adjusted to cover the various expenses of the employee, such as taxes, health insurance, training, and so on. The percentage charged depends significantly on the industry; a temp agency will charge more if it supplies a highly skilled engineer than an unskilled laborer.
This markup is then calculated as a percentage of your gross pay. For example, if your hourly rate is $15 and the temp agency charges a 50% markup, the agency makes $30. So, if you're making $1,500 per month at an hourly rate of $15, then the agency gets paid a lump sum of $7,500 at the end of your three-month employment.
The take-home pay you get might be anywhere between 65% - 80%, depending on how much profit they are willing to make. So, in other words, a temp agency doesn't take any money from your paychecks, but they get paid through an hourly charge placed on your pay.
It means that you are supposed to be aware of how much your hourly rate is and the markup applied by the agency so that you can calculate precisely how much is left for you to take home.
How To Register With A Temp Agency?
Registering with a temp agency as a potential temp employee is a simple process, but it's not always as simple as it seems. While your eligibility to be placed by the temp agency is based upon various factors such as age, skills, and so on, some agencies might be looking to fill a niche requirement that you don't fit.
To be sure that you are getting a fair deal, you must try to meet any of the requirements set by the agency. While some agencies will allow you to apply online, it's better to come in in person and chat with the staff before proceeding further.
The first thing they will do is take your details such as your name, address, and contact number and ask you to fill out an application form. Once you are done with the application form, the agency will match your skills and experience with some clients.
Since most temp staffing agencies operate online, you will have to wait for them to start getting in touch with some of their clients who need your services. But it's always better to keep good relations with the temp agency so that they can place you more quickly if a good opportunity comes up. After that, you will be hired, and your employees will start from the day you are given the job.
How To Negotiate Salary With A Temp Agency?
Depending on the job you are applying for and the competition, it's possible that you'll have to negotiate your pay with a temp agency. It would help if you kept in mind that you don't waste time and money on advertisements and interviews but are not hired.
The negotiation process begins when you go through the temp agency's application form. Before they send your application to companies that need temporary workers, they will give you a starting salary and an expected salary in the first three months of employment. Here are some tips to start salary negotiations:
- If you're not ready to accept the salary offered by the agency, don't submit your application straight away.
- Send them a message within 24 hours explaining why you are not taking their offer and ask them if they can do better by negotiating a bit further.
- Don't be discouraged if you fail to negotiate with the temp agency because this is just one of many potential jobs at hand.
- Prepare a list of questions for the temp agency to answer.
- At the end of the negotiation, make sure that you get a written agreement in writing.
- Be polite without being aggressive.
- Also, remember that if the temp agency has provided you with the opportunity to negotiate, they have made their arguments and put forward their case, so you will be expected to do the same thing.
- In the end, make sure that you don't make hasty decisions after negotiations. The process might take some time, so there's no point in submitting your application right away and then turning it down a few days later because you didn't make enough money.
Do Temp Agencies Pay Holiday Pay?
Holiday pay depends on the type of agency you are using and the type of work you are doing. Holiday pay is only paid once a year, though some agencies pay you for half your annual holiday instead.
Depending on their policies, some companies might offer three weeks' holiday pay while others give two weeks' pay. In other cases, if your job will last for more than a year and you'll earn a salary, you'll be entitled to paid leave from the company.
However, if your job with a temp agency is only temporary, you won't be entitled to any paid leave from them. Moreover, if you are interested in paid holiday pay for a temporary job, you can request it from the hiring company.
It can be done by either asking the temp agency to ask the company to give you some paid leave or arranging a meeting with the employer directly. To get paid holiday pay, you can either add it to your contract with the temp agency or ask for it from your employer.
Do Temp Agencies Provide Health Insurance?
Some temporary agencies do provide health insurance for their temporary workers. Unfortunately, most temp agencies don't consider health insurance. If you want to get health coverage from your temp agency, you will need to contact them and ask them about their policy details and how you can sign up for it.
This information will be available on their website or in the document they provide during the process of recruitment. On the other side, if you are working for an employer that provides health insurance, then this is something that the company will provide for you.
If you are still interested in getting health insurance from a temp agency, choosing a more responsible agency with a good reputation is better.
Tips To Use A Temp Agency To Hire Employees
Temp agencies might help you find both short-term and long-term positions in your company. They can help you find people to fill short-term jobs and find work for employees on permanent contracts. They may also be able to do a little of both.
However, you can use a temp agency to fill a temporary job opening and also to get recommendations for permanent hires by following the below-mentioned steps:
First, you will have to decide what position you are looking for. For example, if you want to find someone to fill an admin position in your office, then you will want to look out for contacts at a temp agency that deals with your industry or industry group.
Once you have identified the type of candidates you are looking for, contact the agency and discuss your expectations with them. They will give you a list of potential candidates to choose from, and you can select the ones that best suit your requirements. This step also involves selecting the right temp agency to help you with your hiring needs.
The next step is to determine how the agency tests the candidates' skills. It can be done by either arranging a test or talking to them about the experience. You will want to select an agency that does one-on-one testing of candidates because it helps you understand their working styles, level of knowledge, and any weaknesses they might have.
Once you know the agency's testing methods, you will determine their approach to employee selection. It would help find out what they charge and what they expect in return. For example, some agencies might charge a percentage of the first three months' salary while others might charge a flat fee or a small fee for each day of work provided by the agency.
If you have defined your needs and expectations according to them, working with an agency is time. You can do this by either going through the provided contact information or meeting the employment supervisor in person. After these steps are complete, you may be able to get the candidates you need for your company's temporary and permanent hiring needs.
Conclusion
Temporary agencies offer excellent career opportunities to individuals looking for short-term employment. As long as you have the right attitude and know what to expect, you can succeed with a temporary job as long as it fits your plans.
Moreover, the other aspects of the job, such as benefits, total hours of work, and pay, can be negotiated with a temporary agency. If you further want to learn about temporary jobs, you'll need to contact an agency and ask them for a consultation. It's better to do this before applying because it will give you some time to decide your preferences.
FAQ
How to find the best temp agency?
The best place to find a good temp agency is in your local area. It will help you be aware of all the available opportunities and see and experience working within the local business community.
How do I know that the temp agency is legitimate?
There are various ways to tell if a temp agency will be reliable for you. It would help if you first looked at their online presence. If the agency has a website, check if it is easy to use and contains all the details you need.
In addition, you should check their quality of service and their customer service. If they seem to have good ratings and are legitimate, you know that you can trust them.
What should I expect from temp agencies?
Firstly, you should expect temporary agencies to provide you with jobs according to your skills. If the organization you are working for needs workers who have specific skills or abilities, then the temp agency should appoint you accordingly.
In addition, when you are working for a temp agency, it is essential to remember that the agency is your partner. The temp agency is supposed to understand the needs of their workers and provide them with jobs accordingly.
In other words, the temporary agency should achieve better results if they work closely with their workers and listen closely to what they want.
