Temp Agencies "Temp to Hire" (employee, applying, interview)

[AnywhereElse]

Does anyone know if there is a limit to the temp status when something is "temp to hire"? I noticed in my husband's job, just before a 90 day period, like day 82, they gave him 2 days notice. I was surprised that they gave him that much notice. He is on another job where I suspect many people are about to be let go just before the 90 days (they don't know how the game is played so it probably won't be pretty) so is there a magic number at work there as far as payment to the temp agency by the employer? Maybe an extra fee for finding a person who is kept as a permanent employee versus a temp employee? Any thoughts appreciated. Thank you.

[MrRational]

[quote=AnywhereElse;30454677]
Does anyone know if there is a limit to the temp status when something is "temp to hire"?
Temp to hire is like rent to own...
If they could afford to buy it (read: wanted to hire you) they would have.

Similar feel god scams are "lease option" vs actually buying a house.

[MSchemist80]

It varies depending on the terms the company negotiates with the temp agency. Some companies shift the cost of paying a recruiter to the candidate by doing temp to hire so the employee works for less money and no benefits and the premium of what the company pays the agency- what the agency pays the employee covers the recruiting expenses. A typical term is 3-6 months. Many other companies just lie and use temp to hire as a way to lure in a string of disposable cheap workers. Many more companies just do permatemps where they keep people as temps for years.

Never ever trust anything temp. Take a temp job if you have nothing else but never stop looking for direct employment. Never quit a direct job for temp to hire and if while you are a temp, you find a perm job do not accept a counteroffer.

[495neighbor]

It depends on the state law, the agreement between the third party agency and their client, and the company rules. The limit in Massachusetts is quite often a year. There is often something called defined term employment where the employee is rolled into the company after a year. It is a gray zone where either the employer has a long term hiring freeze but can hire contractors and/or the employer has a big project but will not need most or any of the employees once it is finished. The employees get most but not all benefits.

I agree with MSchemist80 the three month temp to hire is often a bait and switch instigated by the third party agency to fill a short term assignment that rarely leads to a permanent job due to the fee the agency will charge their client (usually 30% of the employees salary) if the temp is hired. Often the employer is interviewing in the background and just needs someone to fill in during the interim.

[scorpioqueen]

Originally Posted by AnywhereElse

Does anyone know if there is a limit to the temp status when something is "temp to hire"?
Temp to hire is like rent to own...
If they could afford to buy it (read: wanted to hire you) they would have.

Similar feel god scams are "lease option" vs actually buying a house.

I love those analogies they are right on point.

[scorpioqueen]

The other downside is that working for temp agencies gets your resume viewed in a negative light, it gives the impression that you're a job hopper even though it is well documented that the jobs were acquired via staffing agencies.

Case in point, I just had an interview set up by a temp agency for a company (for a seasonal job lasting 1-2 months I might add) and the woman grilled me and stated "You have had alot of jobs, is there a reason why you had all of these temporary jobs?" I stated because that is what was available at the time. She acted as though she understood but kept glaring. She could have just as well turned her up her nose and it would have been the same.

[allen96817]

Originally Posted by scorpioqueen

The other downside is that working for temp agencies gets your resume viewed in a negative light, it gives the impression that you're a job hopper even though it is well documented that the jobs were acquired via staffing agencies.

Case in point, I just had an interview set up by a temp agency for a company (for a seasonal job lasting 1-2 months I might add) and the woman grilled me and stated "You have had alot of jobs, is there a reason why you had all of these temporary jobs?" I stated because that is what was available at the time. She acted as though she understood but kept glaring. She could have just as well turned her up her nose and it would have been the same.

I know EXACTLY what you mean. I think that is a very large reason why I am having issues here now. I worked for one large agency here for several long term projects, veery good projects I must add,, 6 months, one year,, etc.

Some of these were project work, some were replacements of staff on leave for whatever reason. I stayed because 1. there is/was always the possibility of being hired perm. 2, I felt or would like to feel, that I was dedicated to the position and to the agency, 3. I certainly was learning new skills, so it was a win win I think.

Now, I get asked about the amount of temp positions. You can tell there is an air of 'why did do these temp jobs and 2. Why didn't they hire you??

I have stopped applying for new agencies as the last one I tried wondered why my agency who gave me these assignemts did not have anything for me. and again, they were concerned why I had some assignemnts that last 3 to 6 weeks! "Uhh, you're a TEMP agency,, no???" You do fill TEMP jobs", I wanted to say. I guess the days of "Sally's out sick for the rest of a week, call the temp agency" are long gone. But i did fullfill a temp job at the sheraton waikiki resort in the catering department for a woman going on short 2 week surgery which turned into 4 week assignment. Think that looks good on my resume?? lol

But yes, it has its plusses and minuses. I will say some people understand,, so perhaps its just getting the right 'fit' in a hiring person.

[AnywhereElse]

Thanks, this company is low-balling nearly everything coming in with low wages, hiring mostly temps, etc. showing they can do things so much cheaper than the previous owner who had to deal with unions. The thing is, turnover is high and the products will suffer not to mention that many are already boycotting the products. It will surely not be that much of a loss for the temps if the assignment ends I wouldn't think but a push to something with a future. This is a "place holder" anyway at this time but I was just curious as to what both the employer and/or temp agency were up to.

[I_Love_LI_but]

Originally Posted by scorpioqueen

The other downside is that working for temp agencies gets your resume viewed in a negative light, it gives the impression that you're a job hopper even though it is well documented that the jobs were acquired via staffing agencies.

Case in point, I just had an interview set up by a temp agency for a company (for a seasonal job lasting 1-2 months I might add) and the woman grilled me and stated "You have had alot of jobs, is there a reason why you had all of these temporary jobs?" I stated because that is what was available at the time. She acted as though she understood but kept glaring. She could have just as well turned her up her nose and it would have been the same.

She herself was hiring for a short-term job. What a hypocrite!

[scorpioqueen]

Originally Posted by I_Love_LI_but

She herself was hiring for a short-term job. What a hypocrite!

Exactly. The scary part is there are alot of employers who have the same method of thinking.