Below are some frequently asked questions employees often ask about working with employment agencies. Always ask each specific agency for verification.
Getting Hired
How do I apply for a job?
Do I have to pay anything to an agency to find me a job?
Do staffing agencies accept walk-ins?
What documents do agencies require for me to work?
Do staffing companies work with felons?
What type of job openings do agencies offer?
What forms do I need to fill out if I get hired? Is there help with filling out new employee forms?
Can I join a union if I’m still employed by the staffing agency?
Getting Paid
What day is payday?
How do agencies pay employees?
Do temp companies give out bonus pay?
How do I get my W2?
Do staffing companies offer holiday pay?
Do agencies offer benefits?
Safety
What do I do if I am injured on the job?
My job requires that I have steel-toed boots. I don’t have them and cannot afford a pair. What should I do?
Getting Hired
How do I apply for a job?
Contact a staffing agency in your area to see if they have openings for which you are qualified. Before an appointment – either virtual or in-person – gather your work history details, resume, and forms of identification. Then be prepared to answer questions about your skills and experience.
Do I have to pay anything for an agency to find me a job?
No, you do not have to pay a staffing or employment agency to find you a job. Instead, agencies charge employers a fee for sending them qualified candidates.
Do staffing companies accept walk-ins?
Staffing agencies usually accept walk-ins during normal office hours. However, it is always better to contact the agency and schedule an appointment to ensure they can give you the attention you need.
What documents do staffing agencies require for me to work?
Staffing agencies, like all employers in the U.S., require you to provide two forms of a valid ID for you to start work.
Do staffing agencies work with felons?
Some staffing companies work with companies that are open to people with a criminal history. Always ask!
What type of job openings do staffing companies offer?
The jobs a staffing agency offers will depend on several factors, including the agency’s business development strategies, current demand for workers, agency expertise in placing certain types of jobs, and the pool of industries with which the agency has connections and forms agreements.
For which shifts do most agencies have job openings?
Staffing agencies primarily hire for job openings on first or second shift. However, shift openings often depend on the agency and the jobs for which it specializes. For example, an agency geared toward factory workers often hires for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd shifts. But when employees are in high demand, they might offer a 4th shift on weekends to keep production going 24 x 7. Agencies that cater to office or high-tech computer positions might offer flexible work schedules that are not shift-dependent.
What forms do I need to fill out if I get hired? Is there help with filling out new employee forms?
When you are hired into a position, some of the forms that you need to submit as a new employee include:
- A W-4 form for Employee Withholding
- An I-9 Form for Employment Eligibility Verification
- State and/or Local Tax Withholding Forms
- Benefit Enrollment Forms
- Emergency Contact Form.
- Other forms specific to each agency.
Can I join a union if I’m still employed by the staffing agency?
Staffing agencies themselves are not unionized organizations, but if you are a temporary employee working at a company with a union, you have the same rights as permanent employees and you can join the union. Your staffing agency may also bargain with the union over your wages, hours, and working conditions. This information is outlined in the Joint-Employer Status Rule of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).
Getting Paid
What day is payday?
A usual payday at a staffing agency is every Friday starting after your first week of work. You will be compensated for the hours you worked your first week on the following Friday. Some agencies pay on a different day of the week, and a few may pay bi-weekly or even monthly. Most agencies do not offer same-day or same-week pay.
How do staffing companies pay employees?
Direct deposit is the most common form of payment. Agencies may also offer pay cards or checks if an employee does not have a bank account.
Do temp companies give out bonus pay?
Some staffing agencies give employees a retention bonus upon permanent hire or after their first 90 days of employment, whichever comes first. They may offer a referral bonus in the form of a gift card or other compensation for every person an employee refers to the agency who reaches their first 40 hours of work. Staffing agencies may also offer overtime bonuses for employees.
How do I get my W2?
For most companies, W2s are either mailed at the end of January every year or provided through an online portal.
Do staffing agencies offer holiday pay?
Some agencies do offer holiday pay, although it is not the norm. Most agencies do not offer holiday pay. However, most employers that they work with pay holiday pay after an employee’s first 90 days of permanent hire. The goal for most agency placements is for an employee to be hired within their first 90 days of employment.
Do staffing companies offer benefits?
Yes, most employment agencies offer some benefits or perks, although they fall far short of the benefits one receives from a permanent position:
- Half of all staffing agencies offer medical benefits, although they often charge a substantial monthly premium.
- 21% offer short- or long-term disability
- 36% offer life insurance
- 8% offer access to paid family leave
- For agencies offering jobs in low-income areas, benefits could include providing steel-toed boots, welding shields, earplugs, or bus tickets.
Safety
What do I do if I am injured on the job?
While agency procedures may differ, most ask that you report any “on-the-job” injury to your supervisor immediately. Then contact your staffing agency as soon as possible. It is essential that you inform the company for which you are temporarily working as well as the employment agency.
My job requires that I have steel-toed boots. I don’t have them and cannot afford a pair. What should I do?
Under federal OSHA regulations, your employer (the agency) must provide steel-toe shoes or boots at no cost to you if they are required for the job. However, the loophole is that your employer does not need to provide them if the employer permits such items to be worn off the job site.
In some low-income areas, staffing agencies may provide a means to obtain steel-toed shoes or boots for their employees who cannot afford them. This could include passing on donated items or pre-paying for the boots and then deducting a small amount of their cost from each paycheck.
