Staffing companies offer work, options

ALLENDALE, Mich. (WOOD) - Since the start of the recession, many companies have consolidated their human resources departments and are relying on staffing companies. Some job seekers call them temp agencies because they can offer temporary jobs.

Staffing companies work as the middle man recruiting job seekers to fill positions for their client companies.

Seven of the 13 companies at Ready NOW!, a three-day marathon job interview at Grand Valley State University's Allendale campus earlier this month were staffing companies.

"They're running leaner than they ever did before," Mike Fettig, vice president of Grand Rapids-area based staffing company Fettig. "They don't have a department of recruiters to find people, so they use us to go out and find those people," he said.

There are two types of jobs staffing companies help fill: Temporary work with a short-term deadline and "work to hire."

Work to hire is typically a three-month test run during which companies decide if they will permanently hire the worker onto their payroll.
 
Fettig notes his company's workers can draw health, dental and vision benefits after their first paycheck. He sauid an individual's benefits cost $45 every two weeks.

The agency stays away from staffing the shortest-term jobs.

"At our company, we don't staff those types of positions," Fettig explained. "Right now, 90% of the staffing we're doing is what's considered 'trial hire'."

Maria Quinton would rather work directly for a company. She said the work to hire probationary period is not stable enough for her family situation.

"I don't really like (staffing companies)," Quinton told 24 Hour News 8. "I'm scared. Like, you're there for three or four months, and -- bam! -- they don't need you no more."

Express Employment Professionals found David Gualtieri, a former print pressman for 30 years who appreciates staffing companies. He sees work as work.

Express explained the company's average associate works 37 hours a week and could pay for a benefits package.

From June 2009 to July 2012, staffing companies have added more than 786,000 jobs to their payrolls, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

"Temporary hiring is leading indicator for unemployment," Casey Janoska of Express explained. "Temporary workers are the first to be let go and they are also the first to be hired. Now, you are seeing the industry is back to pre-recession levels."