U.S. employers shift to temp workers

[marmar]

By Ruth Mantell, MarketWatch


WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) — As companies remain wary about hiring in this tough economy, more are turning to temp workers. Using temps and other so-called “contingent workers” can help risk-averse firms save on benefit costs, and it’s easier to sever the employment relationship.

Temporary-help services employment increased to about 2.3 million in March from a recent trough of about 1.7 million in mid-2009, according to the Labor Department.

“We have large clients that have laid off hundreds, thousands of employees. They are now using a large chunk of temp workers, managing their labor needs in real time. It’s cost containment,” said Neil Alexander, co-chair of the contingent worker practice group at labor law firm Littler Mendelson.

“This is the new face of labor,” he said. ..........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/us-employers-shift-to-temp-workers-2011-04-27

[hobbit709]

1. Anything to avoid benefits

[Dappleganger]

2. This has been happening for well over five years.

Not sure why this is just now making the news (my husband is in manufacturing).

[intheflow]

4. It's been happening for well over 15 years.

Manpower, Inc. has been the world's leading employer for at least that long. I know. I used to work for them, 15 years ago.

[Lugnut]

12. Temp agencies around here are the go-tos for jobs.

A large amount of available jobs in this area are only available through temp agencies. There are a few companies that hire directly. This has been the norm for too many years.

[Missy Vixen]

3. It works both ways

Why should temps be loyal to an employer that will replace them on a whim? I've spoken here before about DH's contract job. He left in January for a permanent position.

The former temp employer came calling last week. They want him back. Of course, they don't want him badly enough to offer him a permanent job.

It's also interesting to me how many employers sink a small fortune into training contractors, but that knowledge and $$$ walks out the door when they leave.

[Donnachaidh]

5. They've BEEN doing this for several years -- this is NOT new

DH got laid off when the business he worked for went belly up, and the only way he found work in late 2008/2009 was thru temp work. He has years of experience, but had to settle for anything he could get. And all of it thru agencies.

[frebrd]

6. This was happening long before this "economic crisis"

Just corporados doing what they do.

[raccoon]

17. Corporados, I like that. Corporations + desperadoes, I guess? Nt

[frebrd]

18. I can't remember for sure......

but I think that term goes back to the seventies.

:)

Edited for spelling.

[xmas74]

7. I've been through this before and it's not pretty.

Many years ago I could make a living working in an office pool. Now the only office jobs available in my area tend to be through temp agencies. The agencies pay $8.00 an hour, no benefits, and want the person to be on-call to work on any day.

A person can't survive with this kind of work.

[corpseratemedia]

8. we're not in a Depression, we're in a Collapse.

[bvar22]

9. ALL according to plan,. my pretties,

ALL according to plan!

[elehhhhna]

10. temp is always the leading edge of job recovery....this means

they'll start hiring again soon. It's not "cost containment" once it goes long-term, so this is actually good news.

[hobbit709]

13. They were going to temps back in 2000

My last real job in 2001 was a temp.

[Broderick]

11. Could have written this article ten years ago

TWENTY years ago. It has already happened.

[rurallib]

14. temp agencies should be made to offer benefits

I had a friend in the legislature. Before the massacre of 2010, that was one of the bills being discussed by the then Dem majority.
If a person continues to get employment through a temp agency then that person is in effect working full time for the agency and should get benefits.

What them cheap fuckers won't do to screw a working person out of human dignity.
Note that payday lenders and temp agencies are both thriving.
And "american" companies did create tons of jobs last year - in China, India, Vietnam etc.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

15. I got laid off. Now I am a Temp.

The sense of security is not there, as a temp. Obviously, the security was not real, as I got laid off. The company was "global", so when it was time to save money, the easy thing to do is to lay people off. Some countries (like the US) it's easy to lay someone off. Some countries have stricter work rules. So guess which country gets the hit.

Now I'm doing pretty much the same job, but as an hourly temp, not as a salaried employee. A good side: If they want me to work long hours, then they pay me for the long hours. A bad side: If I call in sick, I don't get paid for those hours. On balance, no complaint.

:hi:

[raccoon]

16. I work for a state agency in SC. I am temporary and so are many others--and I've worked here years.

Still temporary, no benefits. About 5 years ago, a woman in HR told me that 50% of the employees here are temporary, no benefits.

Other state agencies are doing the same thing and it's been going on for years.