Underpaid and misled: how staffing agencies manipulate temps

Report shows temp workers have few protections, even as staffing industry sees explosive growth

Haley Hodges was working as a temp at a medical staffing agency in Iowa when she found out there were complications with her pregnancy and she was forced to cancel a few shifts. The cancellations led to her being placed on probation and her wages being slashed.

The pandemic has led to a huge surge in temporary hiring, according to a report by the National Employment Law Project (NELP) and Temp Worker Justice that highlights the struggles many of those workers face.

36% of workers reported they or their dependents relied on some form of government assistance while they worked through a staffing agency.

24% of workers reported experiencing wage theft through a staffing agency, in which they were paid less than minimum wage, not paid overtime, or not paid the proper amount forhours they worked.

17% of workers reported suffering an illness or injury on the job, and 41% of those workers said they had to cover the costs of medical care themselves.

24% of temp workers said they have never received safety training before beginning a temp position, and 23% said they only sometimes received safety training.

80% of workers reported interest in joining a worker organization such as a union to improve working conditions.

71% of workers reported experiencing retaliation for raising workplace concerns to their management.