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.

In today’s world, the concept of temporary help has appeared in every industry and has become a pivotal necessity in the business world, in every country. Some individuals work for years and years doing nothing but temp work because they like the flexibility and meeting new people.

Companies of all sizes have come to rely on temp agencies over the years to help out during peak periods of activity or to even replace someone on vacation or sick leave. Some companies have been forced to significantly downsize their permanent employee numbers and resort to using temps as needed. In the long run this saves the companies money even though the fees for using a temp agency can be high.

Large agencies not only thoroughly screen their applicants so they are only presented to companies with positions that best suit their abilities, these same companies provide free training in many areas such as basic office procedures or even web design. Recent grads and even moms returning to the work force after raising their children use these opportunities to their best advantage in order to find the most desirable temp positions.

Using a temp service is also a popular way to find permanent employees without making an expensive hiring mistake too early on. The temp can learn the job and have a few weeks or even months to see if this is something he would enjoy permanently, and the company is making the same assessment on their side as well. If it works out, great. If not, no harm done.

Even though fees can sound pretty high, these are usually less expensive than hiring a permanent employee for whom you would incur expenses for benefits, taxes, etc. However, because companies in the past realized this, they were keeping temps for extended periods of time, sometimes over a year. These temps were being treated like employees for all intents and purposes, but without the legal designation and benefits afforded to a real employee.

Laws were finally put into place to protect these temps. Regulations differ by state, but the general concept is that after a year, temps must be offered the same benefits that a full time employee would have in the same position.

It’s always a good idea to have a good relationship with more than one temp agency, and try to get some home phone numbers, too! You may find that you need to replace someone immediately without having had advance notice, and it might be difficult to wait until 9:00 to start making calls.

Author Bio: Every company has its problems, HR Consulting can help resolve conflicts.

Category: Business
Keywords: temp agency, business, temp service, temporary employment, jobs,, temp jobs, staffing services