Our great grandparents were probably the first ones to use a temp agency over a hundred years ago. In those days families typically packed up everything in their city houses and headed out to the cool countryside to get away from hot summer heat. Of course they couldn’t take their household staff with them so they hired temporary help for the summer.

A hundred years later, temps are used but not just for domestic help. Every type of company in every country has used temps for one reason or another. The temp industry has become a reckoning force in the business world, not only in the US but in every civilized country the world over.

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.

Typically, temps are used during heavy work load periods or even seasonal changes such as holidays. Although the fee structure and markup for these agencies sounds like they can be expensive, these fees are still low enough to save money in the long run when compared to employer paid expenses that are mandated by the state such as taxes and workman’s comp insurance.

Applicants applying to these temp agencies are frequently given the opportunity to take free classes and courses. There is a wide range of topics to choose from including basic office work to more advanced studies in accounting, graphic design or call center functions. In addition to offering these courses, the applicants are tested and screened to make sure they are placed only in jobs of interest to them. These screening services also help companies determine what skills are needed for each particular job or position.

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 and find a permanent recruitment immediately without having had advance notice, and it might be difficult to wait until 9:00 to start making calls.

Since 1951, placement agencies has assisted organizations solve wide-ranging human performance problems, staff their organizations efficiently and effectively, and realize targeted objectives.