[jwholden]

If I search for help through the newspaper I have to pay for the ad, spend time interviewing candidates on the telephone, spend time meeting with candidates, spend time waiting for candidates who never show, and then try to replace candidates who decide the job isn't for them after one day's work.

If I use a temp agency I pay a fixed percent over my base wage, they cover workman's comp, unemployment claims are not against my company, and I get to see how the recruit works out before comitting to them (and vice versa). If someone comes to work with less than an admirable attitude I can ask for a different worker the following day. If I really like someone I can hire them after 90 days with no additional charges. It seems like a win/win situation.

One agency I talked with recommended a crewman with a 'minor' history of misdemeanors. Yes, that was plural!!! Time to try a different agency.

Has anyone had luck finding help through a temp agency? Good or bad experiences with temp agencies?

[agla]

A few years ago the labor market was really tight and getting anyone to respond to an ad was pretty difficult. We used a temp agency. They supplied us with J1 workers (foreign college students with seasonal working visas). It worked very well. We could get 8 guys one day, or three, or none.

They charged an hourly rate which was about what we would pay someone off of the street. They took care of all of the required expenses from that hourly money we paid them. In other words, it only cost that hourly rate to use these guys.

The quality of the help varied. Most of them were Irish, so there was not much of a communication problem. There were also a lot of eastern Europeans (Czech, Poles, Russian, Bulgarian,... a little more difficult because our work was very new to them and most of the other guys had difficulty with the accents) They weren't much different than other college kid workers. They'd sometimes have rough nights the night before and some were not used to labor (these were from somewhat wealthier families in their countries). All and all, it was a great thing because we could adjust our work force to our work load the day before we needed them.

That company went under after we used it for a couple of years. If it did not, I expect that we would still be using them.

[GLAN]

The thing I don't like about "Temp" is the agency fees. True that they take care of the payroll taxes and in some cases the insurance reguirements.

But why should I have to pay an hourly wage of lets say $18 an hour for someone I would only be paying them $10 - $12 an hour? Have them work a day, 2 or 3 and quit.

These internet forums are great........this one in particular.........but I do believe that many are missing out on a lot if they are only relying on the internet........You have to go out make friends with your peers......

You need first hand knowledge that is area specific? Where you gonna get that? on the internet?........Heck no. You have to chat it up with others in your area.

Along with that there is a tremendous well of untapped labor at the ready....A guy quits....Ask your friends to ask their guys if they know someone looking for work.

I need to fill positions........I ask my men first........then I ask those around me and my friends in business. It never fails

[Bill Schwab]

JW:

Back in my home state, we signed up for a temp service when we needed help during the spring start up. I rapidly came to the conclusion there is a distinct reason that in a booming economy, where we have a 4% unemployment rate, people choose to be full time temporary workers.

They recieve daily pay, so, they have money enough to go down the the corner and get their bottle of Night Train Express to wash down the Inhaled dope, Crack and Herion they often consume. You get two hours to decide if you want to keep those "employees" or send them back...If they decide not to work, you loose an entire day.
On the worst and last day of the one week we used temp help, one of them, who had a great reputation, was clean cut, well manored, and had valid license with no marks against him, decided to go on a binge and head back to his hood in Chicago, to score some Herion-----IN MY FREEKEN TRUCK!!!!!! After turning his radio off so we could not communicate with him, he shows up the next day like nothing happened. When he entered the shop and approoached me I slammed him against a wall lifting his almost soon to dye rear end about a foot off the ground and asked what the @!#!@$%$@#^@^ he thought he was doing. That's how I found out he went off the wagon other wiuse he never would have admitted he had a problem. I made him walk back to the temp shop 4 miles away, stoned off his gourd then rengotiated the contract of work for that week based off the loss the truck this guy took and liabliity he posed. The temp service ate the bill....

I had a bad experience, and I cannot stress enough this point. In an economy where everyone is working, there are those who choose not to work. And there are those who choose to be full time temp workers. Question their motivations, and ask yourself if YOU would assume their liability to your operation.

I've heard similar stories from many others I know around the country who have used day labor, temp services. If you find a good one, let me know, I would love to hear a positive experience.

[spiderlily]

I hear ya, JW. The spring process of talking to a hundred bozos on the phone and interviewing 30 or so and hiring and firing 8 to find two or three just slays me.

We used temp workers last year, and I hope to hire my crew from temps this year. The temps we got worked as hard or harder than our regular guys and seemed to be in it as a way to find permanent employment. I have work right now that I can train someone to do in about 15 minutes (chipping brush and miles of edging and mulching) and can tell if they have a work ethic and a brain by the end of the day, so I can hardly lose. That said, I'd never let a temp behind the Dingo, much less behind the wheel of a truck.

Glans method doesn't work for us. Even people who should know better seem to think that anyone can do this work, and will recomend the most laid back, unmotivated slacker kid for a job, and then you have to explan to a friend why his nephew didn't work out. No thanks.

[agla]

All the Americans that they sent us were complete losers. It was the J1 guys that were alright. It cost us far less than $18 per hour. In fact it was about the same rate we started regular labor help at, but without the add ons of workmans comp, ssi, etc,..
We would tell them not to give us certain guys if they were no good. It was great. I don't know what happened, but the company is no more.

[GLAN]

Originally posted by spiderlily
I hear ya, JW. The spring process of talking to a hundred bozos on the phone and interviewing 30 or so and hiring and firing 8 to find two or three just slays me.

Glans method doesn't work for us. Even people who should know better seem to think that anyone can do this work, and will recomend the most laid back, unmotivated slacker kid for a job, and then you have to explan to a friend why his nephew didn't work out. No thanks.

I can certainly see why my method does not or has not worked for you and others.....This is an area specific situation......Some how I don't imagine a large Central American popluation in Wisconson.

Now, where I am?

Geez..........it's the imigration capital of the United States......The Central American population here rivals that of Texas, Arizona and Southern California.....finding workers is not all that difficult. Finding the right people that fit in with the company is something different. I can allways find workers..........in fact. I have a friend that loans me his guys from time to time in the spring....

[jwholden]

That said, I'd never let a temp behind the Dingo, much less behind the wheel of a truck

When I talked to a temp agency they asked if I wanted someone who could operate a tractor or heavy equipment. I told them I would prefer that they send me someone with no experience, and a good attitude, and I can teach them what they need to know.

Put a 'new' worker on the Bobcat, Dingo, or Truck. Definitely not. After a month or two and showing some concern for safety and common sense, absolutely.

[OptaGreen]

I've had nothing but horrible experiences with temp labor. Guys leaving at lunch and never coming back or coming back stoned, guys disrespecting property, and so on. There is a distinct reason why most of them area at a temp agency and not searching for full-time. Of course I'm in SE Louisiana, home of the handout syndrome.

[site]

I only resort to temp labor in desparate times, and then only when I have simple repetetive tasks for them. In the past I have had a woman 8 months pregnant show up to push wheelbarrows all day- She got sent back right away. We had the unmedicated schitzophrenic, and a whole bunch of alchoholic/drug addicts. I agree with Bill- people who chose to work for temp agencies do it for a reason.

[pineapple]

We use them in times of emergency.

The worst problem is they tell us the person will be at our yard at 7 am but no body shows.

We've hired people that we used as temps first. Bad.
There is a reason they are working there.
If they were decent workers they would already be employed.