How to Choose the Right Temp Staffing Agency

Selecting the right temp staffing agency can help improve productivity, save you money and provide you with flexible staffing options. Choosing the wrong one can have a detrimental impact on your business.

How do you ensure that you select the right temp staffing agency? To help you make an informed decision let’s consider 4 questions that you should ask before making a decision:

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• Do they have your industry Experience?
• What kind of references do they provide?
• Do they properly follow all legal procedures?
• Do they properly screen their workers?

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Do They Have Your Industry Experience?

If the answer is no then it is not the right one for you. A temp staffing agency can be a good agency but if they do not have experience in your industry they are not going to understand the needs of your company. Also by having extensive industry experience they will have access to a larger talent pool to draw from.

Having industry experience makes your temp staffing agency a tremendous source for market intelligence. For example, they will have knowledge concerning industry trends. They will also have knowledge concerning employee availability and standard wages. This knowledge can be used to stay ahead of the curve. It can also be useful in developing a successful retention strategy.

What kind of references do they provide?

In the course of due diligence it is wise to check references before making a decision. So it is good to consider the types of references provided by a prospective temp staffing agency. For example, the references should be from companies within the same industry as yours. This will help verify that the company has the necessary experience and supply of skills to care for your needs.

Do They Properly Follow All Legal Procedures?

This is an important question because you do not want to face unnecessary legal issues because the temp staffing agency is not in compliance with all applicable regulations.  Here are some examples of legal requirements that you should be concerned about:

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• Complies with Workplace Safety and Insurance Board’s (WSIB) regulations and properly pays all premiums on behalf of their temporary workers
• Complies with all Ministry of Labour (MOL) regulations which would include ensuring that all temps are legally able to work in Canada
• That they pay all of their workers at least the minimum wage, and remit all employer source deductions to the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA)

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One possible warning sign that they may be taking legal shortcuts is if the temp staffing agency bills you at a rate so low it’s too good to be true – because it probably is, and you could be on the hook for penalties down the road.

Do They Properly Screen Their Workers?

This would include properly performing background checks. Properly performing background checks would help avoid possible legal issues. It would also serve as a safeguard against identity theft.  You want to have confidence that your temp workers are trustworthy.

When assessing temp staffing agencies, part of your homework would also involve being aware of all competency tests performed by the temp staffing agency. You want to make sure that they thoroughly complete all aspects of the screening process.

If you choose a temp staffing agency that has industry experience, strong references, complies with all legal requirements and properly screens all workers, then you can have confidence that you are choosing the right one.