Unlike a permanent employee, whom a company can hire on an open-ended basis, temp workers are hired on fixed-term contracts that are set for a predetermined duration. Staffing agencies recruit and train temporary workers, and host companies who are in need of short-term help contract with the temp agency to send the workers on assignments. Depending on the arrangement, temps may be assigned to tasks that expose them to danger or risk of injury. In addition, they may be reluctant to object to unsafe working conditions or advocate for safety measures due to fear of losing their temp job.
Euworkers have been attracting increased policy attention in recent years as it becomes a more prevalent form of work. It is used to fill in gaps in the workforce, to respond to cyclical demand, and as an evaluation tool for employees before offering them permanent positions.
Benefits for Temp Workers
While it’s true that temp jobs can feel less permanent than their full-time counterparts, they offer plenty of opportunities to build career skills and grow your professional network. As a bonus, they can also provide the psychological boost that comes from earning a paycheck while you’re looking for your next gig.
However, as this Forbes article points out, temporary workers can feel disconnected from their team and workplace culture since they know they’ll be leaving soon. It’s important to make sure that your temp workers have clear training and a support system on the job, such as an app like Connecteam that allows them to quickly contact a manager for guidance or clarification.