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Warning! All Temp Agencies Are Not AlikeRead The Fine Print Before Signing Anything At Any Time
Not all temp agencies are out for your best interests in working conditions. Check the fine print before signing any contract in your job search.
While this column often promotes working for and through a temp agency, you must still be careful of any contract you sign. Apparently some of these temp agencies are forcing some workers to accept unacceptable terms in order to obtain work through that agency. Check Your Terms With The Temp AgencyIt was an understood relationship, that if a company you were "temping" for wanted you as a full-time hire, the company had to pay a "finder's fee" to the temp agency. To avoid raiding of each other's time and staff, it was also explained that the person "temping" (that would be you) could not be hired by a company the person had "temped" for, for anywhere from three months up to two years. Nowhere did it state that this included companies that the temp agency had as clients; just who YOU had worked for. This was meant to protect both sides of the industry - companies could not "test out" potential employees through a temp agency and avoid paying a fee; and temp agencies kept companies happy while supplying temps and getting an income from the company. Terms Are Not Employee FriendlyHowever, it seems that recently some "dirty secrets" are just coming to light in the temp industry. Many temp agencies are forcing potential employees to sign contracts that are NOT in the employee's best interest at all - in fact, it is all for the temp agency. It's not just that the fine print may read that ANY client the temp agency has is now forbidden for three yearsas a potential employer for you; what's worse is that many agencies are now forcing people to sign contracts that waives the right to sick days, vacation pay, etc. - all the items that normally promote the use of temp agencies for those seeking to pay bills while looking for full time work. Time For Legislation?It may be time for legislation, or at least a way to plug these loopholes for unscrupulous agencies. And while the majority of temp agencies state it is the few bad ones that are giving them a bad name - obviously it is prevalent enough to warrant further investigation into all practices of temp agencies - to protect the vulnerable temp worker. References: Barrier to hiring "dirty little secret", Retrieved from Toronto Star on July 7, 2008 __________________________________________________________________ Copyright July 9, 2008. Paym Bergson and Suite 101. All rights reserved. Any unauthorized use of this material will constitute an infringement of copyright.
The copyright of the article Warning! All Temp Agencies Are Not Alike in Career Advice is owned by Paym Bergson. Permission to republish Warning! All Temp Agencies Are Not Alike in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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