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Temporary assignments have become a successful way for job seekers to obtain full-time positions, or work full-time. Companies choose to utilize temporary employees to cover short-term needs or as a way to meet increased demands without adding headcount. Assignments can be very short-term, such as a one-day assignment covering for a receptionist who is out sick, or many months in length, for instance, covering an extended maternity leave.
Companies utilize a temporary help service for better time management, lower costs and reduction of co-employment risks. To learn about co-employment, click here (description at bottom of page).
Companies pay Atrium an hourly rate. Atrium is then responsible for matching payroll taxes (unemployment, social security and Medicare), all the administration costs of processing payroll, all insurance (worker’s compensation and disability) and bonds for the employee and the cost of benefits. Temporary employees must be paid time and a half for hours exceeding 40 in one week.
A client calls Atrium with the details of an assignment including length, hours, skills required, dress code, and description of the assignment’s responsibilities. Atrium counselors inquire about the personalities of the people involved and other information that may help them in making the right match.
The notice given for assignments varies as well. The Atrium Ready2Go Program accommodates our clients’ last minute needs, such as a receptionist calling in sick. Long-term assignments tend to come with more notice because the matching process is typically more involved. Phone calls are made to Associates whose skills and working styles match the assignment and Atrium contacts the client with the name of the Associate as soon as the match is made.
For each assignment, Associates submit approved timesheets on a weekly basis
and are paid the following Thursday. Atrium offers its working Associates
immediate direct deposit - the easiest and most expedient method of payment.
MORE INFORMATION
ASA (www.staffingtoday.com), the American Staffing Association of America, represents the staffing industry. Below are statistics related to the industry provided by ASA
Jobs
Staffing companies match millions of people to millions of jobs.
- 2 million people per day are employed by staffing companies.
- 1 million new jobs have been created by staffing companies over the past eight years.
- 79 percent of temporary employees work full time, virtually the same as the rest of the work force.
Flexibility
The staffing industry offers flexibility to both employees and companies. People can choose when, where, and how they want to work. Companies can get the skills they need to keep fully staffed during busy times.
- 64 percent of temporary employees say flexible work time is important to them.
- 28 percent of temporary employees say they work for a staffing company because it gives them the flexibility and time to pursue non-work interests.
- 81 percent of companies cite labor force flexibility as the overriding reason for employing contingent and temporary workers.
Bridge
Temporary and contract work provides a bridge to permanent employment. People can try out a prospective employer and showcase their skills for a permanent job.
- 74 percent of temporary employees say it's a way to get a permanent job.
- 72 percent of temporary employees obtain permanent jobs while working for a staffing company.
- 40 percent of assigned employees are looking for their first permanent job or are reentering the job market.
Choice
Many people choose temporary and contract work as an employment option. They can select their work schedules and choose among a variety of diverse and challenging assignments.
- 45 percent of temporary employees prefer the alternative arrangement over traditional employment.
- 43 percent of temporary employees say needing time for family is an important factor in their job decisions.
- 29 percent of temporary employees say they work for a staffing company because they like the diversity and challenge of different jobs.
Training
The staffing industry provides free training for millions of temporary and contract employees to help meet today's demand for skilled workers.
- 90 percent of staffing companies provide free training to their temporary employees.
- 4.8 million temporary employees received skills training worth $720 million in 1997.
- 70 percent of temporary employees say they gained new skills through their assignments.
Sources: American Staffing Association, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Conference Board
Co-employment
Co-employment refers to a situation when two employers manage one employee. There has been a considerable amount of attention given to co-employment issues since the Vizcaino vs. Microsoft case, a class action lawsuit, during which the Court ruled that temporary workers at Microsoft, although paid by a third party company, were eligible for the some of the same benefits as Microsoft employees, including stock purchasing plans. The Court ruled that the employment of these people was managed more by Microsoft’s own employees than the third party service.
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Temporary | Direct Hire | Temp-to-Hire | Payroll Services
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