In these hard-hitting economic times, many qualified Americans are out of jobs. Jobs seekers usually turn to their local and state Departments of Labor, but many forget to check in with their local staffing companies. They can almost be found in virtually every city in America. These companies have access to clients who need temporary assistance which often times converts to full time employment. American staffing companies have been matching talent with clients for several decades now.

WHAT IS A STAFFING FIRM AND HOW CAN THEY ASSIST ME?

Staffing firms provide temporary talent to their clients who solicit their services. Many employers utilize these services to fill in during times of increased workload. Most employers look to the staffing industry to match their companies with the appropriate professionals for open positions. Now more than even, organizations are choosing employment agencies to assist them with their placement needs because as it turns out, utilizing a temporary agency saves money. In this economic climate, this is excellent news for job seekers. Because temporary employment agencies are responsible for paying the temporary employee, this saves the company from costly overhead. In other words, employers that use temporary services are billed one flat rate for these temporary professionals, while the agency takes care of benefits, recruiting, credentialing, pre-employment testing and screening, and pay rolling.

Staffing firms are better equipped to assist job seekers in finding jobs. Not only are more employers utilizing staffing companies, staffing companies have access to open job positions that may not have been advertised by the employer via conventional methods.

STAFFING INDUSTRY STATISTICS:

As reported by the American Staffing Association:

* 2.66 million People are employed by staffing companies every business day.
* 11.2 million Temporary and contract employees are hired by U.S. staffing firms over the course of a year.
* 79% of staffing employees work full time, virtually the same as the rest of the work force
* 88% of staffing employees say that temporary or contract work made them more employable.
* 77% of staffing employees say it’s a good way to obtain a permanent job.

FINDING REPUTABLE STAFFING FIRMS

It can, at times, be a daunting task to locate and become employed with staffing firms. Not all staffing firms carry employee benefits. Not all staffing firms withhold payroll taxes. With that in mind, how should you find a local staffing firm that provides good service and is respected for the services they provide?

- Look to the experts. Staffing firms, who are members of the American Staffing Association, must abide by vigorous ethical guidelines. Visit the American Staffing Association to find an affiliated staffing firm near you.

- Check with the staffing firm to make sure they withhold the appropriate employment taxes. Many temporary employees are drawn to staffing companies that consider their professionals independent contractors. This means that if you consider employment with this firm, you will receive a 1099 at the end of the year and will be responsible for paying your own taxes. Although it may seem like a good idea to get a paycheck each week without any taxes, you can be overwhelmed at the end of the year with taxes owed to the IRS and your state.

- Make sure your staffing firm carries the appropriate insurance. Firms that consider their temps independent contractors, often do not carry worker’s compensation on their 1099 contractors. Make sure that you are an employee (as evidenced by the withholding of payroll taxes) for your protection. You would not want to get hurt on the job and not receive appropriate medical care and/or compensation from your company. DO NOT SIGN ANY WAIVERS STATING THAT YOU UNDERSTAND THAT YOU WILL NOT RECEIVE WORKER’S COMPENSATION BENEFITS. This is not legal and you should therefore consider employment with another staffing firm.

- Find a staffing firm that covers your insurance benefits. There are many staffing firms that offer these services. Although the plan may only be a limited benefit plan, it still provides affordable coverage for you and your family.

Employment with a staffing company can provide many positive outcomes for job seekers. For more information regarding the staffing industry, visit the American Staffing Association at http://www.americanstaffing.net

Justin Fontenot is the President and founder of Symmetric Healthcare Staffing. Located in Louisiana, Symmetric has been matching qualified professionals to its clients since 2006. Symmetric Healthcare is a proud member of the American Staffing Association. Symmetric Healthcare is a Joint Commission Certified Staffing Firm. For more information about Symmetric Healthcare Staffing visit http://www.symmetrichcs.com

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