Temp Work - A Rant!!

[DeterminedOne]

I just started a TEMP job working 3-11PM and I have to tell you it's been rough! My sleeping schedule is all messed up. By the time I get home and settled it's 11:30. From there my body needs to wind down, so I'm falling asleep around 2AM. Problem is, I'm used to getting up early (by 7AM) because I'm a morning person and get a lot done in the mornings. I should sleep until at least 9:00, but sometimes my body doesn't cooperate - even when I'm tired. Now, I feel cranky and tired all the time.

Another problem I have is trying to figure out what/how to eat. I find myself skipping meals and that's a big no-no! I'm not hungry in the mornings, which may have something to do with not getting enough sleep. I eat lunch before leaving home and I'm not hungry again until around 7-8PM and I hate eating that late. Also, I only get 3 fifteen minute breaks and it's hard to eat in 15 minutes. They tell me I can combine the breaks and take up to 30 minutes at once. But the job I have doesn't allow me to be away from my desk that long. I want to say something about it, but I'm working there as a TEMP and I want to be flexible so they will hire me.

Being a TEMP is a problem in itself because I don't want to be taken advantage of, but I want to be flexible. YKWIM? The person on first shift is a TEMP, too. She pretty much does whatever they ask her to do, which has resulted in her working 60-70 hours a week. Her attitude is do whatever they say to get hired, but I've got to draw the line somewhere. I didn't sign up to work 60-70 hours a week. In fact, the agency never mentioned anything to me about overtime.

Yesterday I worked 1-9PM. At 8:40 they came and asked if I could stay 'til 10:00. I stayed, but I wasn't happy about it and neither was my DH. I didn't let them know that I was upset, but I was. They asked me to work 3-11 here on out. No problem, I signed up for that. But then a few hours later they tell me about required overtime on Saturday from 7AM to 3PM. Like I said, I want to be flexible but once again I knew nothing about weekend work. Furthermore, I don't want to get off work at 11PM and turn around and go back at 7AM.

I have always worked M-F on first shift, so this is all new and very strange to me. I want to get hired in at this company, I really do. But I don't want to be used, nor do I want the rules to keep changing in the middle of the game.
The temp on first shift has reached the 90 days and they are free to hire her, but haven't yet. Should I wait to see how they handle her situation, i.e., hire her before I say something? Help please!!!

 

[Evil Genius]

You need to discuss this with your agency. Most places will take advantage of temps BIG TIME. Don't fall into the trap of do what they ask and you will get hired. Most of the time they use you and throw you away. Or they hire around you. I temped for 6 years, its not as easy as it sounds.

 

[Chicago526]

Can your temp agency help? If the contract is for M-F 3-11 and does not mention required OT, perhaps they can do something for you.

The two people I know that worked for temp agencies couldn't get hired by the company's they temped for to save their lives. One had to quit the temp agency then apply and interview with the company like a new-hire in order to get the job!

 

[DeterminedOne]

You need to discuss this with your agency. Most places will take advantage of temps BIG TIME. Don't fall into the trap of do what they ask and you will get hired. Most of the time they use you and throw you away. Or they hire around you. I temped for 6 years, its not as easy as it sounds.

I definately need to talk to the agency but I'm afraid. I don't know what the agency will say to them and I fear an awkward work environment. Worse case scenario is they tell me to hit the road, but what if they don't and let me contiue to work there and just hold a grudge against me?

The boss of the place asked me to come and talk to him with problems and concerns. Should I? I've never done this before so I don't know what the proper procedures are. I guess the agency needs to know upfront if I'm not happy or feel I'm getting something other than what I signed up for. I've never done this before so I don't know the right thing to do. The only thing I know for sure is that I refuse to be used!

One more piece of info to add - I'm the fifth TEMP on second shift since August. They've had a lot of problems keeping someone in the job. Now I know why. I get the feeling they are really counting on me, that they appreciate the job I've done in the short time I've been there. They keep telling me what a good job I'm doing. I know I'm doing a good job, but them telling me that may be there way of buttering me up just to use me.

 

[Syrreal]

you should definitely check with your agency. After all, they are the ones who are actually paying you (not the company) and I know that depending on the agency, you may not be allowed to get overtime.

Also, was this a temp-to-hire position? If not, the company may have no intention to keep any of their temps.

If they do hire their temps, you may want to watch how they treat their regular employees (Is the overtime expected of everyone? Are they asking people to stay late on a regular basis or changing their work times? etc) as it may end up being something that you don't want to have to deal with more than on a temp basis.

 

[JCJRSmith]

you should definitely check with your agency. After all, they are the ones who are actually paying you (not the company) and I know that depending on the agency, you may not be allowed to get overtime.

Also, was this a temp-to-hire position? If not, the company may have no intention to keep any of their temps.

If they do hire their temps, you may want to watch how they treat their regular employees (Is the overtime expected of everyone? Are they asking people to stay late on a regular basis or changing their work times? etc) as it may end up being something that you don't want to have to deal with more than on a temp basis.

I was thinking the same thing. If they abuse the temps, how do they treat their regular employees?

 

[DeterminedOne]

you should definitely check with your agency. After all, they are the ones who are actually paying you (not the company) and I know that depending on the agency, you may not be allowed to get overtime.

Also, was this a temp-to-hire position? If not, the company may have no intention to keep any of their temps.

If they do hire their temps, you may want to watch how they treat their regular employees (Is the overtime expected of everyone? Are they asking people to stay late on a regular basis or changing their work times? etc) as it may end up being something that you don't want to have to deal with more than on a temp basis.

Yes, it is temp to hire. I was talking with a woman in a different department who started there as a temp in Feb. but wasn't hired until Aug. I don't know if it's some kind of budget issue or just plain beauracracy that she had to wait that long. I'm interested to see how quickly they hire the temp on first shift. That will tell me a lot! It's a factory/warehouse enviroment but I work in the office. They require OT of everyone, especially the factory workers who are sometimes told at the last minute they have to work later. But since I'm a temp they shouldn't be able to impose mandatory OT on me. I'm not against working OT, but I want to know upfront. You're right in that I need to consider what it will be like to actually work for them.

 

[Syrreal]

I temped at a bank for a few months (it was temp to hire but I found a better and more lucrative position elsewhere) where they expected everyone to work a saturday a month. But in return, you got to leave early on other days so that you wouldn't be forced into overtime you didn't want. Also, my agency didn't do the overtime thing so I knew that if I had to stay I wasn't going to be paid... well forget that!
The people I worked with were nice though and they treated their employees well. There wasn't that much to do (it wasn't a busy branch) so I got a lot of time to read.

 

[Feralpeg]

Most companies have to budget for new hires and the budgets are only approved at certain times each year. The company I worked for would hire temps before hiring new employees if they were in a crunch because they don't pay benefits for temps and they are easy to get rid of if things slow down.

If the company requires madatory OT without notice from its regular employees, they probably expect the same thing from a temp. If I were you, I'd talk to the temp agency. They might tell you to hang in there until they find you something else. It doesn't sound like the ideal environment for you. Good luck!

 

[EthansMom]

I don't think it's unreasonable to call the Temp Agency and say, "I'm being asked to work OT, which I don't mind, but I was wondering if I would be paid on an hourly basis for all of the hours I work."

Also, it's not unreasonable to let your supervisor at the job site know that you would appreciate as much notice as possible when the company is going to have you work OT so that you can arrange your schedule, accordingly.

Personally, the situation you're describing, with bad communication regarding OT and rearranging schedules at a late date, sounds like pretty bad management (no planning). Hopefully, it's just a seasonal thing. If you like the job, otherwise, I would just mention the two things above and hang around to see how the job goes. If there are other factors that show the company isn't well-run, then I'd keep my eye on the want ads for a better fit.