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Should we get rid of or reduce Temp Agencies?[W:131]

Should we reduce or get rid of temp agencies?

  • Yes, get rid of.

    Votes: 2 5.6%
  • Yes, reduce.

    Votes: 4 11.1%
  • No.

    Votes: 19 52.8%
  • No, they are helping.

    Votes: 11 30.6%

  • Total voters
    36
Re: Should we get rid of or reduce Temp Agencies?

If they are working "full time", ie 40 + hours a week kinda thing, then the temp agency is required to supply some benefits, as they are employees of the temp agency. Also, there is nothing wrong with going back to the temp agency and asking them to find you a different job. If they have done well enough that they have been kept around for 2 years, that suggests they are decent employees and would represent the agency well in another job. Temp agencies love and will work with good people since they get repeat business when they send good people out.

My company uses a very large agency whose employees (that are engaged to us) get benefits and paid time off. They're happy.
 
Re: Should we get rid of or reduce Temp Agencies?

I don't like your argument for one reason. But I'll answer:

No they are not being forced to stay. However, they are temping in a job that they REALLY enjoy, and they are being told they are going to be brought on "soon". However, it appears that budgeting is a problem and it keeps getting pushed back more and more. So they think that soon they will get this job, but it seems like it may be a long time.

I'm not saying that government "interfering" in this situation is appropriate, but it's just a crappy situation for them. They love what they're doing, but they're getting paid 2 times less than what their colleagues are making that actually work here, they don't get our PTO, and especially our benefits...yet they do our work.

Can you understand that?

Are these people who are there because they work for a temporary agency, or are they working for your employer directly?
 
Re: Should we get rid of or reduce Temp Agencies?

Are these people who are there because they work for a temporary agency, or are they working for your employer directly?

They work for the temp agency, but they report to us directly and do the same work we do. So they get their own temp pay rather than ours.
 
Re: Should we get rid of or reduce Temp Agencies?

Your employer has 4 people in your department that they've been paying a temp agency for for over 2 years? I never heard of such a thing. Your employer is screwing itself because the fee they've been paying for those employees after 6 months becomes more costly than it would be to bring the employees on the payroll.

Yes, and there are more from the same temp agency in other departments as well that also came on around the same time. I have no idea why they are keeping them on as temps, since they are great workers and there is definitely the need to have them on permanently.
 
Re: Should we get rid of or reduce Temp Agencies?

Temp jobs were enormously helpful to me when I was trying to work my way out of abject poverty. They allowed me to very, VERY quickly find work and even though most of the work didn't pay very well, it made it possible to get lots of work and develop the experience that would eventually put me into a career path that took me to a six figure income. Needless to say, I've got no problem with temp agencies and I'm glad they were around when I needed them to get regular work.
 
Re: Should we get rid of or reduce Temp Agencies?

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/01/26/the-rise-of-the-permanent-temp-economy/?_r=0

Over the last three years, the temp industry added more jobs in the United States than any other, according to the American Staffing Association, the trade group representing temp recruitment agencies, outsourcing specialists and the like/QUOTE]

Do you think we should get rid of or reduce the temp agencies? Do they seem to be part of the problem or solution?




"the temp industry added more jobs in the United States than any other,..."

They must go.

This really ****s up Obama's plans
 
Re: Should we get rid of or reduce Temp Agencies?

I think many companies exploit them. For instance, there are about 4 temp workers in my department that have been here over 2 years now with no idea if they will ever be hired permanently. They don't have to give them benefits like sick time or healthcare. So while they do serve a purpose sometimes that gets taken advantage of so I am a little on the fence here.



So, there is a case of abuse, and your solution is to blow up the system?

You voted for Obama didn't you?
 
Re: Should we get rid of or reduce Temp Agencies?

They work for the temp agency, but they report to us directly and do the same work we do. So they get their own temp pay rather than ours.

That has nothing to do with your employer. Those people have to take it up with their employer. And they have no idea what your employer pays their employer for their labor. And if your employer was going to hire them full time, they would know about this through their employer. Employers don't hire temps from agencies as a means of interviewing job candidates. What kind of business are you in and what is the skill set of these people? By the way, they are supposed to tell their agency that they want to leave and get a better assignment somewhere. They aren't supposed to be discussing it with the employees of the employer who has contracted for their work.
 
Re: Should we get rid of or reduce Temp Agencies?

A good portion of my twenties was spent in temporary employment.

My first temp job was for a manufacturer. This was an employee owned company and they used the temp agency as a sort of probationary period. Usually if you lasted 3 months they'd hire you on full time. Well, 5 months later they finally got around to hiring me on full time but, I was rather insulted by their foot dragging and after I made sure they spent the money on pre employment drug screening and physical I walked out at lunch one day never to return. Lesson? Don't take your temp employees for granted.

My second temp job was a pool and spa distributor. This was a small shop, 6 employees including the owner. The owner was a verbally abusive schmuck. He had an inventory system only he understood and his entire shop was a safety hazard. One time as I was pulling a pallet off a shelf he failed to tell me it was supporting the contents on the shelf above it and I almost had the entire 4 story rack fall on my head. This was my fault of course. After being chastised in a most uncivilized manner for another instance which was not my fault (it wasn't I swear) I got tire of the verbal abuse and told him I was going to throw him over the balcony off the second floor loft if he spoke to me like that again. I was let go by his foreman at the end of the day.

At another temp job where they worked you like a Hebrew slave, I had a full time employee speak to me in a manner unbecoming to which I proceeded to throw a box knife at that person's head. I received a phone call the next day telling me my services were no longer required.

And still, at another temp job where they worked you like a dog I spent 4 months straight working seven days a week sometimes a double shift on the weekends to get hired on full time as the pay rate offered at that time was quite considerable. Well, the Team Lead's daughter was in my cohort and she of course was a shoe in for hire and my dedication and hard work made me a candidate for full time employment. Then, before the hiring processes started for me, the daughter of the Team Lead was hired and it was made known that NOW, after she was hired on the starting pay for the rest of us going to be $4 less an hour. A bomb threat was made on the building one day, (wasn't me, I swear, I was working) and we all were sent home. I never returned. They called me for two weeks begging me to come back and I said, "Nah, that's OK".

So, idk, what yous tink?
 
Re: Should we get rid of or reduce Temp Agencies?

Yes, and there are more from the same temp agency in other departments as well that also came on around the same time. I have no idea why they are keeping them on as temps, since they are great workers and there is definitely the need to have them on permanently.

It's costing your employer a fortune to maintain temps through an agency. No clue why they'd do that.
 
Re: Should we get rid of or reduce Temp Agencies?

Exactly the same for me. I don't trust them. They are easy to exploit. And it seems like many companies AND the government using them. Cheating the system. Plus how can you claim you are giving more jobs when they are crappy temp jobs that are not long term?

I think we should aim to create real jobs and reduce employment agencies.



What exactly IS a "real job"?

I owned a company. We had 26 permanent, full time workers, and 6 part time, tech students and an intern now and again.

Of the 26 full time, each was, by law, guaranteed twelve stat holidays and a minimum of two weeks vacation, or 22 days off. 22 times 26 is 572 working days a year out of total of 6,552 working days.

What am I supposed to do, hire 3.2 people full time to cover those hours. or lose business?

Meanwhile, there is a small army of out-of-the-work-force people who either cannot or chose not to work full time, and temp agencies are their choice? Do we simply tell them 'no' can't do that any more?

And, for the record, 80% of our hires and promotions came from within, usually starting as part time or as a temp. let's just forget that.

My dear lord, if the day ever comes that a progressive can understand the concept of thinking through their ideas and realize there are always consequences...usually unintended when it comes to socialists....
 
Re: Should we get rid of or reduce Temp Agencies?

That has nothing to do with your employer. Those people have to take it up with their employer. And they have no idea what your employer pays their employer for their labor. And if your employer was going to hire them full time, they would know about this through their employer. Employers don't hire temps from agencies as a means of interviewing job candidates. What kind of business are you in and what is the skill set of these people? By the way, they are supposed to tell their agency that they want to leave and get a better assignment somewhere. They aren't supposed to be discussing it with the employees of the employer who has contracted for their work.

Employers don't hire temps from agencies as a means of interviewing job candidates

False statement. Employers can very well do that. If they hire a temp and they are doing a good job, why WOULD they hire someone else if there was an opening? We've brought on tons of temps from the very same staffing agency. However, it always takes 10 times as long as hoped. And quit acting so "by the book". You know dam well when employees become friends they start talking about compensation at some point. Some people like to talk about that crap. You know it happens, I know it happens. Deal with it.
 
Re: Should we get rid of or reduce Temp Agencies?

So, there is a case of abuse, and your solution is to blow up the system?

You voted for Obama didn't you?

um what? Where did I say anything about a solution or blowing up the system? All I was said was how there are a couple of temps where I work and it doesn't seem very much to the advantage of anyone since they have been here a little over 2 years.

and who I voted for is none of ya business. ;)
 
Re: Should we get rid of or reduce Temp Agencies?

It's costing your employer a fortune to maintain temps through an agency. No clue why they'd do that.

There's a lot of business decisions in the corporate world that are made that don't really make much sense. :shrug:
 
Re: Should we get rid of or reduce Temp Agencies?

um what? Where did I say anything about a solution or blowing up the system? All I was said was how there are a couple of temps where I work and it doesn't seem very much to the advantage of anyone since they have been here a little over 2 years.

and who I voted for is none of ya business. ;)


ah...gee.

the thread is about getting rid of temp agencies and you agree.

that's blowing up the system.

and there isn't even a problem, no one is forcing those people to work there.....if they don't like it, they can leave.
 
Re: Should we get rid of or reduce Temp Agencies?

That has nothing to do with your employer. Those people have to take it up with their employer. And they have no idea what your employer pays their employer for their labor. And if your employer was going to hire them full time, they would know about this through their employer. Employers don't hire temps from agencies as a means of interviewing job candidates. What kind of business are you in and what is the skill set of these people? By the way, they are supposed to tell their agency that they want to leave and get a better assignment somewhere. They aren't supposed to be discussing it with the employees of the employer who has contracted for their work.
I voted no and wonder what authority or legal precedent does the author of the poll speculate could be used to "get rid" of temp agencies? I've had experience working for two temp agencies and I have used them as an employer. Which is why I have to take exception to some of your comments tres borrachos. All of these details vary from state to state for obvious reasons, right to work laws (or as I like to call them, right to fire) etc. But I have found the practice of using temp agencies to spot potential good employes and hire them full time quite common. It's how I got hired by a fortune 500 company back in 2003 and they still follow the practice, though they also do direct hiring and recruitment at colleges too. This is not the case in your area?
 
Re: Should we get rid of or reduce Temp Agencies?

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/01/26/the-rise-of-the-permanent-temp-economy/?_r=0

Over the last three years, the temp industry added more jobs in the United States than any other, according to the American Staffing Association, the trade group representing temp recruitment agencies, outsourcing specialists and the like

Do you think we should get rid of or reduce the temp agencies? Do they seem to be part of the problem or solution?

the current corporate scheme in my field is to staff the labs with "independent contractors," which are basically full time employees with an end date. i had a position like this a few years ago. i worked my ass off, got promoted to important committees, and was given verbal assurances that i would be hired as a real employee at the end of my contract. i'd describe the entire experience as something akin to Pinocchio waiting to be turned into a real boy. as my contract reached completion, my boss's boss was moved to emerging markets, and we got this new guy in who didn't know me. i started being treated like a second class employee where before i had been treated like anyone else. he even moved me from my regular cubicle to a much smaller one designed for visitors. needless to say, i was let go after doing a great job and working my ass off. i found the whole process to be a pile of ****. sad thing is that i might have to do it again.

staffing your company with temps who are going to be fired on a specific date no matter what they do is terrible for morale. most will do the minimum not to get fired unless you lie to them and tell them they will be hired, as was my experience. do i want the practice banned? no. but if there was a union in my field, i would definitely join it. this is the kind of **** that happens when labor is unorganized. i have a graduate degree, and up until recently, there really wasn't a need for a union in my field. i assure you that there is now.
 
Re: Should we get rid of or reduce Temp Agencies?

I think Obama should ban jobs period.

And then declare war on it. Then , like everything that has been down that road, they will explode! Jobs for EVERYONE!
 
Re: Should we get rid of or reduce Temp Agencies?

The reasons for wanting to ban temp agencies in order to better support a healthier economy are only symptoms of a larger problem.


What, so temp agencies make it easier for employers to exploit employees. Is that the fault of the temp agencies? Should we chase temp agencies down...or should we deal with the reasons for why employers want to exploit employees in the first place?
 
Re: Should we get rid of or reduce Temp Agencies?

I don't like your argument for one reason. But I'll answer:

No they are not being forced to stay. However, they are temping in a job that they REALLY enjoy, and they are being told they are going to be brought on "soon". However, it appears that budgeting is a problem and it keeps getting pushed back more and more. So they think that soon they will get this job, but it seems like it may be a long time.

I'm not saying that government "interfering" in this situation is appropriate, but it's just a crappy situation for them. They love what they're doing, but they're getting paid 2 times less than what their colleagues are making that actually work here, they don't get our PTO, and especially our benefits...yet they do our work.

Can you understand that?
You suggest they have been promised a different arrangement multiple times. Have you heard the phrase, Fool me once, bad on you. Fool me twice, bad on me?

As I said, if they don't like the terms of their employment, they should find something else to do. ;)

BTW, I do not believe your they are being paid 2 times less statement.

.
 
Re: Should we get rid of or reduce Temp Agencies?

100% hit the nail on the head.


We've had these two temps, GREAT guys, and they are being told "we should have an answer for you shortly". They've been told that a million times. They don't get our wonderful benefits and PTO. A shame.

Precisely. I was applying for a job not too long ago, literally the add went up and I applied. I got a reply that a temp had already filled the job. So they advertised a job with benefits and filled it with someone who won't get them. And it isn't the first time this happened to me so I went to a temp agency. The pay sucks and no benefits.
 
Re: Should we get rid of or reduce Temp Agencies?

You suggest they have been promised a different arrangement multiple times. Have you heard the phrase, Fool me once, bad on you. Fool me twice, bad on me?

As I said, if they don't like the terms of their employment, they should find something else to do. ;)

BTW, I do not believe your they are being paid 2 times less statement.

.

Have you looked for a job in this market? If you are looking at a temp job they are all the same. You may get s different dollar value, but you won't get benefits.
 
Re: Should we get rid of or reduce Temp Agencies?

the current corporate scheme in my field is to staff the labs with "independent contractors," which are basically full time employees with an end date. i had a position like this a few years ago. i worked my ass off, got promoted to important committees, and was given verbal assurances that i would be hired as a real employee at the end of my contract. i'd describe the entire experience as something akin to Pinocchio waiting to be turned into a real boy. as my contract reached completion, my boss's boss was moved to emerging markets, and we got this new guy in who didn't know me. i started being treated like a second class employee where before i had been treated like anyone else. he even moved me from my regular cubicle to a much smaller one designed for visitors. needless to say, i was let go after doing a great job and working my ass off. i found the whole process to be a pile of ****. sad thing is that i might have to do it again.

staffing your company with temps who are going to be fired on a specific date no matter what they do is terrible for morale. most will do the minimum not to get fired unless you lie to them and tell them they will be hired, as was my experience. do i want the practice banned? no. but if there was a union in my field, i would definitely join it. this is the kind of **** that happens when labor is unorganized. i have a graduate degree, and up until recently, there really wasn't a need for a union in my field. i assure you that there is now.
What I find concerning is that we are seeing far too much of the work force being forced into working for temp agencies Helix. It is a symptom of where things stand with our economy and not a good one in my opinion! I know some temp agency horror stories and then I know some great temp agency stories too. What you described is more the company you were temping for screwing you over than the temp agency! I've told many people over the years, if you are temping as a stepping stone to a permanent position someplace for more than a year and half and they are not making serious moves towards hiring you (calling you into HR, doing interviews, etc)? Then you need to move on to some other company if that is what you are using the temp agency job for.
 
Re: Should we get rid of or reduce Temp Agencies?

False statement. Employers can very well do that. If they hire a temp and they are doing a good job, why WOULD they hire someone else if there was an opening? We've brought on tons of temps from the very same staffing agency. However, it always takes 10 times as long as hoped. And quit acting so "by the book". You know dam well when employees become friends they start talking about compensation at some point. Some people like to talk about that crap. You know it happens, I know it happens. Deal with it.

It isn't a false statement. And don't tell me how to act. Who are you anyway?
 
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