There’s an occasional problem with people who work with temp agencies not getting paid for their work. This creates a deep distrust of staffing agencies as a whole. People may desperately need a job and may know that working with a temp agency will help them find work fast, but if you’re worried that you’re going to put in the hours only to never get paid for them… It’s only natural for people to be reluctant to turn to a temp agency in times of need. 

So, is this even legal? Can a temp agency simply not pay you for the hours you work?

In a word, no. Temp agencies cannot refuse to pay you for the hours you’ve worked. Here’s what you need to know about why this is such a commonly talked about problem, why it’s illegal for a temp agency to refuse to pay you, and what you can do if a temp agency doesn’t pay you for the work you did.

Why Is It So Commonly Said Not To Trust Temp Agencies?

Bad apples reflect horribly on the entire industry. Unfortunately, there are indeed staffing agencies out there that don’t pay people for the hours they worked. Make no mistake: what they’re doing is illegal. Those horror stories that your friend told you about that time they worked with a staffing agency and never got paid? They should never have happened.

Staffing agencies are an excellent way to find temporary employment. They can be a lifesaver to those who desperately need a job – and now- as well as to those looking to supplement their income or to explore new careers. Many staffing agencies exist in order to help you do just that. They also help the companies who need some extra sets of hands, but not for long enough to justify expanding their permanent team. 

Is It Illegal For A Staffing Agency To Refuse To Pay You?

Yes! Under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act, employers cannot refuse to pay wages for time worked. You are legally entitled to the wages that were promised to you for your services. Should a staffing agency refuse to pay you, they are in violation of the law. You could be entitled to additional benefits if a staffing agency refuses to pay you your rightfully earned wages.

What Do You Do If A Staffing Agency Refuses To Pay You?

There are a few courses of action you can take here. The most drastic is to lawyer up, but that doesn’t necessarily need to be your first step. If you’re concerned about the costs of hiring a lawyer in order to ensure that you get paid what you’re due, there are a few other steps you can take first. 

In an ideal world, you would never have to worry about this situation, but whether or not a temp agency can refuse to pay you is one of the most commonly asked questions about temp agencies for a reason: it does happen from time to time. 

So, should the worst happen and you do experience this, here are some of the things that you can do.

• Check the employment agreement. There may be certain conditions that address why you have not received your pay. For instance, you may need to go pick up your check in person, you may need to return equipment, or there may have been a holiday that defers the time of your payment. 
• Contact the staffing agency. Mistakes can happen. If you did not get paid, you can contact human resources about it.
• Check your union contract. If you are part of a union, it may address pay issues and have requirements for actions you need to take. A union rep can help you in this regard.
• Research laws. State laws can vary depending on how long an employer can take to pay you. 
• Contact the Department of Labor. You can report the staffing agency to the Department of Labor and receive assistance in collecting your wages. 
• Contact the State Labor Department. They can provide you with a complaint form and help you receive your wages once the form has been processed.
• Check with a legal organization or clinic. These can help you, often at no charge. 
• Consult with a lawyer. They can give you more personalized attention and go over the potential of filing a lawsuit against the staffing agency with you.
• File a small claims case. If you don’t wish to file a lawsuit, you can file a small claims case. 

A Temp Agency You Can Trust

All Trades Staffing Services is here to help you find work. Whether you are looking for temp jobs or you’re hoping that a temporary position will lead to full-time employment, we take pride in connecting people with job opportunities – and obviously paying them for the work they do! If you would like to work with a trustworthy staffing agency, please do not hesitate to contact us today! We are here for you.

Can Temp Work Help You Switch To A New Career?

Many people find themselves wanting to switch to a new career at some point in their life. Whether you got a degree in a field only to find out that working in said field was not at all what you thought it would be like or you simply yearn to expand your horizons and try something new, it can be challenging to switch to a new career, especially the older that you get. Fortunately, temp work gives you the chance to both try new things and to find new careers, making the switch easier than it otherwise would be.

Here is what you need to know about some of the challenges people can have when they try to switch to a new career and how temp work can help.

Common Challenges People Face When Trying To Switch Careers

The younger you are, the easier it can be to switch careers. With less financial responsibilities, going from an entry level position to an entry level position can be easier. However, regardless of whether you are young or you’ve become an industry professional and you want a change, finding a new career is never easy in and of itself. There are many challenges people face when they’re trying to make a career change.

1. Getting their foot in the door. If you don’t already know people in the industry you want to switch to, it can be very difficult to get your foot in the door.
2. Lack of experience. Employers seldom want to hire people that they’ll need to train. Thus, if you aren’t walking into a career change with plenty of experience in the field you want to switch to under your belt, you can find it very difficult.
3. Pay cuts. If you’re established in an industry and you want to make a change, you’ll more likely than not end up needing to take a pay cut, as you’ll be going from established professional to entry-level.
4. Not knowing whether or not it’s worth it. You don’t want to put in all the effort it takes to switch to a new career only to find out that it’s not a good fit for you. 

How Temp Work Can Help

If you’ve been thinking about switching to a new career, working as a temp could be extremely beneficial to you. This is because working as a temp allows you to test drive different career options, network, and build up your skill set, among other reasons.

Here are some of the ways in which temp work can help you find a new career.

#1. Test Out Different Career Options

When you work as a temp, employers are a lot more forgiving. This allows you to try out different career options and see whether or not you like them, which you might not otherwise get the opportunity to do, since a lack of experience would bar you from being able to even test them out. 

#2. Network

Temp jobs are just that: temporary. They can last anywhere from a few days to a few weeks to a few months. This gives you the opportunity to really build you network and form good relationships with people across a variety of industries. That way, you have people you can lean on to help you get your foot in the door. Plus, the staffing agency itself works with you and helps you find jobs.

#3. Supplement Your Income

If you’re making a career change, you’ll likely experience a decrease in your income at first. This can be quite challenging, especially if you have financial obligations like a mortgage, car payments, and more. You can do temp jobs in addition to your normal work to supplement your income while test-driving different careers.

#4. Gain Experience

If you’ve never worked in a field before, working as a temp gives you the opportunity to gain experience in it and to try out new things. This can be extremely beneficial down the line when you’re looking for a permanent position, as you will be able to bolster your resume with experience that is relevant to the position.

#5. It Can Help You Land A Permanent Position

Since temporary positions are, well, temporary, many people assume that they’re not good for those who are trying to find permanent, full-time work. In truth, working as a temp can actually help you land a permanent position further down the line. If you make a good impression on an employer and they have the capacity to expand their team, they could offer you a full-time job.

Are You Considering Temp Work?

As you can see, there are many different ways temp work can help you find a new career. All Trades Staffing Services LLC can help you find positions that work for you. Contact us today to learn more about working with us or about the jobs that we have available.