| Temporary work, as the term implies, is when the | | | | have the option of not continuing with the |
| employee is expected to leave after a specified | | | | assignment but they may lose future employment |
| period of time or after the completion of a particular | | | | opportunities through that agency. |
| project. These workers are also referred to as | | | | Temporary employees are never sure how long a |
| contractual workers, seasonal workers or temps. The | | | | job will last or when their next job will come along. It |
| task that they are hired to do will decide the hours | | | | is their responsibility to remain in contact with their |
| that they work, some will work full time and others | | | | agency when they are unemployed, continuously |
| only part time. In most cases temporary workers | | | | reminding the agency that they are available. In this |
| aren't entitled to any benefits but in certain fortunate | | | | way they are likely to be given priority when jobs |
| instances the temp will receive the same treatment | | | | come in over those who did not appear quite as |
| as that of the permanent workers. A lot of | | | | eager to work. |
| temporary workers find their jobs through temporary | | | | Despite the uncertainties that accompany temporary |
| work agencies that have a great many contacts in | | | | employment, there are some benefits to be gained |
| the business world and an established reputation, | | | | from seeking the help of a temporary work agency, |
| which can make finding a job easier. But not all temps | | | | they include: 1) easy hire - if the type of work that |
| go that route; many jobs can be found in your local | | | | you are looking for has technical requirements and |
| classifieds, on the Internet or even posted up at | | | | you are recommended by an agency, you are almost |
| your local supermarket. | | | | guaranteed the job without the selection process. 2) |
| A temp agency can be differentiated from a | | | | Flexible hours - you may be able to choose which |
| recruitment firm by the type of employees that it | | | | shifts you want to work, you can take weekends |
| places. Recruitment firms place permanent | | | | off, go off for holidays, or take time off for personal |
| employees. Overlaps can occur, however, when | | | | appointments, you can also choose to work these |
| temporary workers become permanent or when | | | | days for extra money. 3) Wages for temporary |
| permanent workers start out on a temporary basis. | | | | workers are sometimes higher than the wages for a |
| The function of the temporary work agency is to | | | | permanent worker in a similar post. 4) You are less |
| find and retain workers so that when other | | | | likely to be fired than if you were in a permanent |
| companies, in need of short-term workers, contact | | | | position, although the company has the right to ask |
| the agency, the agency has a list of candidates that | | | | the agency not to send you back for any other |
| it can choose from to send over. Temp workers are | | | | assignments. |
| also useful in cyclical or seasonal work that requires | | | | The disadvantages to going through temporary |
| the staff levels be adjusted often. An agency might | | | | agencies include: 1) no benefits like health insurance. 2) |
| specialise in a particular field such as the medical field, | | | | Reduced liability protection. Without liability insurance |
| IT or secretarial work. Some agencies even specialise | | | | temp workers can be held accountable for any errors |
| in providing handy men for odd jobs. | | | | that result in damage and can be sued for negligence. |
| When an applicant has his or her first interview with | | | | 3) Lack of references as most employers don't |
| a temporary agency, he or she will have to complete | | | | consider the work period long enough to warrant a |
| a set of competency tests to judge the standard of | | | | recommendation on a resume. |
| skills. This is especially necessary in the secretarial | | | | For its advantages and disadvantages temporary |
| field. Once the results are known, they are entered | | | | work is a lifestyle that either suits you or it doesn't. |
| into a database. When a company wants to hire | | | | Some people really enjoy the freedom to simply |
| someone with a specific set of skills, the agency | | | | pack up and go on a two month trip to the Andes |
| looks it up in the database and contacts the most | | | | before coming back to earn more money to do it all |
| likely employee to see if they are interested in the | | | | again in Tibet. Some people crave more stability in |
| position. | | | | their lives, the constant uncertainty and financial |
| Once the employee agrees to an assignment, she or | | | | worry is too much for them. Some people do it |
| he will receive instructions relating to the job e.g. | | | | when they are young and in their early twenties and |
| work appropriate clothing, work hours, wages, and | | | | then settle down to a more permanent lifestyle in |
| who to report to. If there are any problems at all, | | | | their thirties. Some people never settle down. The |
| for instance if the employee is asked to perform | | | | nice thing about living in this day and age is that no |
| duties not described to him or her, she or he must | | | | matter which category you fall under, no matter |
| call the agency and speak to a representative. They | | | | which choice you make, the world caters for you. |