Agency Worker

An agency worker is a person contracted by an employment agency and sent to perform temporary work for an employer. Agency workers have an established contract between themselves and a temporary agency, they are supplied to an employer for a set period of time, and they are not self-employed but rather are required to perform work identified by their employer, which includes instructions about how they should perform their work.

Agency workers are not contracted to perform specific contract jobs on a daily basis for a company (i.e. cleaning services) but rather have gone to a temporary agency to find temporary work, which can include working for several employers over a period of time.

Agency Worker what are my rights?

Agency workers may eventually be hired as full-time workers, but often they are used to perform work for a short period of time to meet the increased demands within a company. If you are an agency worker it is important that you understand your legal rights.

For example, did you know that if you are an agency worker you have access to the workplace facilities? You are also protected by minimum wage laws and should receive pay which is equal to your skill and experience. Additionally, you are protected by U.S. discrimination laws, which means regardless of where you work you should not be discriminated against based on your race, sex, religion, color, national origin, age, or disability for job placement, salary, and working conditions.

Agency workers also have the right to a safe working environment. This means, regardless of where you work, your employer is required to follow OSHA regulations with regards to safety and health. You may also be entitled to a 30 minute lunch break and 15 minute breaks for each 8 hours worked. State laws may vary, but you can contact your state's department of labor department if you have questions.

Benefits of an Agency Worker

Agency workers may have benefits over other employees. For example, in a recent article in the Houston Chronicle one job expert argued an agency worker may have a "higher level of expertise related to job knowledge, employment trends and recruitment practices by virtue of continuous placement."

Agency workers may also have an easier time with job placement because employment agencies have developed relationships with several different companies and may have a good reputation placing dependable, reliable, and conscientious employees. The greatest benefit, however, is the opportunity to shine for a potential future employer. Agency workers who have work hard and have good work habits are likely to be noticed by the company and may have a better opportunity to find future employment