HomeBusinessHired As A Temporary Worker? 7 Things You Should Know

Hired As A Temporary Worker? 7 Things You Should Know

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Due to the recent global crisis, many people were left unemployed for a long time. But there are a handful of people who were able to secure themselves a job despite the circumstances, one way or another. Some managed to become freelancers, while others became temporary workers. But unlike freelancing, temporary employment is rarely touched upon by experts. As such, it’s only natural for one to be unfamiliar with the inner workings of temporary jobs.  

If you’re recently hired as a temporary worker, you probably have a lot of questions. In that case, this article should help you understand everything you need to know about your employment.  

  1. Temporary Workers Can Also Enjoy Worker’s Compensation Benefits  

One of the many questions that temporary workers tend to ask is whether workers’ compensation still covers them. If you don’t know, workers’ compensation refers to the insurance paid to an employee in the event where they get injured during work. In exchange, the employee can no longer sue the employer as they forfeit their right to do so upon receiving the compensation.  

Take note that temporary employees workers’ comp is no different from the standard workers’ compensation. The same rules apply and you’ll receive the same amount, regardless of whether you’re a temporary or permanent employee, which should be around USD$20,000.  

  1. You Can Ask For Sick And Annual Leave From The Employer  

A common misconception of temp workers is that they won’t enjoy the same benefits as permanent workers. But in reality, you do, just like the workers’ comp. These benefits may include annual or sick leave. However, you have to remember that it isn’t set in stone. It may change according to the employer. So, if the employer normally doesn’t provide these benefits to their permanent employees, naturally, you wouldn’t get to enjoy them as well.  

  1. Regular And Temporary Workers Usually Have The Same Rights  

Apart from the benefits, both temporary and regular workers also have the same rights, specifically when it comes to protection. This would mean you have the right to be protected from harassment, retaliation, discrimination, and wrongful termination. You also have the right to file a complaint or sue the employee in the case of unfair provision of wages or salary. However, take note that the keyword is ‘usually’ as some companies may not have the same policy.  

  1. Temporary Workers Are Hired For Less Than A Year  

People often confuse temporary workers and part-time employees. If you belong to that group of people, a clear indication that one is a temporary worker is if the employer hired them to work for less than a year. This is usually included as one of the clauses in the contract. There should also be a clause that specifies the date at which the temporary worker is to resign from the job.  

Furthermore, it’s worth noting that there’s a particular law in some states that disallows companies from hiring temporary workers for more than two consecutive years.  

Simply put, even if your employer were to like your performance, you need to become a permanent member in order to work for them in the long term.  

  1. Wages Are Often Calculated On An Hourly Basis  

One thing that sets temporary workers apart from freelancers is the fact that they’re paid on an hourly basis. For your reference, the hourly rate for temporary jobs is, on average, around USD$20.  

Compared to the hourly earnings of employees in the United States in 2021, which is USD$11.26, the rate of temp jobs is considerably higher. However, you have to remember that small businesses and enterprises don’t hire temporary workers. Only those that are relatively well-off offer temp jobs, so this considerable difference is very much expected and justifiable.  

  1. There’s No Limit As To How Many Hours A Temp Worker Can Work  

Unlike what most people think, there are no limits to the work hours of a temp worker. They can even work for more than 40 hours a week, as long as the employer allows it. In that case, they’re entitled to overtime wages.  

  1. An Agency Can Help You Get More Jobs  

While it’s possible to get hired by a company as a temporary worker, the best way to get more temp jobs is actually to join an agency. They’ll find companies that are willing to hire temp workers and provide them to the members, including you. Of course, they’ll choose an individual that fits the skillset, but since you can still search for temp jobs independently, there’s no harm in joining an agency.  

Conclusion  

Not many people were able to find a job for the past year, so if you’re able to get a hold of a temporary job, you might as well make the most of it. But you can’t do that if you’re unaware of how this type of employment works. However, with this article, you should be able to understand how temporary jobs and employments.   

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