Using a Temp Service for Employees

Whether you need short-term help for the peak season or someone to cover an occasional shift, a temp service or staffing agency can help. These firms pre-screen candidates, handle the hiring paperwork, and assume liabilities like workers’ compensation insurance. However, you’ll pay a markup to the agency and won’t have time for training.

Finding a suitable temp service can help your portable restroom business in the long run. It provides staff in a pinch, allowing you to accept a job or start a project without worrying about how you’ll cover the extra shifts. Yet, PROs must vet agencies carefully and weigh the pros and cons before hiring temporary workers. Here’s what you need to know.

Temp Service: What It is and How It Works

A temp agency hires individuals for short-term projects. Typically, the roles are entry-level and last one day to one week. Many areas also have staffing agencies. Besides offering temporary workers, these firms may have direct-hire, contract, and temp-to-hire roles. You can permanently and immediately add a staffing agency employee to your roster with direct hire, or you can establish a 90-day trial period, after which you can hire them as a temp-to-hire worker. Alternatively, contract roles mean you agree to employ the worker for a specific timeframe.

Staffing and temp services interview job candidates, perform background checks, and complete skill assessments. They are the employers of record, meaning the agency pays the employee and employment taxes. When you hire someone through a temp agency, your only responsibility is ensuring that the timecards are accurate. In return, the service adds a markup cost to the worker’s salary, ranging from 25% to 100%.

Pros and Cons of Hiring Temp Workers from an Agency

The biggest benefit of hiring temp employees is filling an immediate or short-term need without hiring someone for a permanent position. Suppose a team member is out on Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) or workers’ comp leave. In this case, a temp worker could take over until they return. Likewise, staffing agencies help PROs keep up during peak seasons or staffing a special event. There’s very little paperwork and less liability than hiring an employee.

However, finding suitable workers with the required skills through temp agencies can be challenging. You don’t have time to train or see if they mesh well with your crew. Instead, they’re thrown into the position and expected to do the job. A poor choice can cause more problems than it’s worth.

Best Practices for Using a Temp Service for Employees

The best staffing and temp agencies become partners. They understand what type of employees your portable restroom business needs and focus on finding the best match, not simply earning their markup. Therefore, working with a temp service that values your company and offers the help you require is crucial.

Use these tips when looking for a temp service:

• Research staffing and temp agencies by reading customer testimonials and reviews
• Look for services specializing in laborers for cleaning, lifting, or other niche areas
• Ask to review contracts and markup percentages before signing any agreements
• Request information about their screening, interview, and reference check processes

Consider a Service for Your Temporary Staffing Needs

While a temp service for employees won’t work for every scenario, it can help PROs through tough situations. By developing a relationship with local staffing agencies, you can let them know what you’re looking for and even receive an alert when they hire someone meeting those requirements. The bottom line is that the occasional use of a temp service enables portable restroom businesses to overcome some challenges of employee retention and recruiting.

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