An Employer's Guide to Hiring Temps Through A Temping Agency

Temping, or temporary work, is a flexible employment arrangement where employees fill short-term roles to meet immediate business needs. This approach is especially advantageous for companies that need to adapt staffing quickly without committing to long-term hires. Temporary roles are often filled through temporary employment agencies, which handle recruitment, vetting, placement and even payroll on behalf of businesses.

This guide will walk you through how temp agencies operate, what a temp agency does, the benefits of hiring temporary staff, and practical tips for effectively working with an agency.

What Does a Temp Agency Do?

Temp agencies provide crucial support for businesses by acting as a staffing partner, managing the often time-consuming aspects of hiring temporary employees. Acting as intermediaries, they help employers fill roles quickly with skilled, pre-vetted candidates.

Here’s a look at how temp services work:

• Candidate Sourcing and Vetting: Temp agencies maintain a large pool of qualified candidates across various roles and industries, quickly matching them to open positions based on required skills.

• Interview and Selection Process: Agencies handle the initial screening and interviewing of candidates, saving employers the time needed to review multiple applicants.

• Payroll and Administration: Agencies manage payroll, taxes, and other administrative tasks, allowing businesses to avoid the complexities of short-term employee management.

• Workplace Compliance: Ensuring all temporary hires meet workplace standards and legal requirements, from background checks to certifications.

• Support Throughout the Placement: Temp agencies provide ongoing support, addressing any issues that arise and offering replacements if necessary. By taking on these responsibilities, temp agencies allow businesses to focus on core activities.

How Temp Agencies Work

Temp agencies streamline the process of hiring temporary staff by managing all the recruitment stages, making it easy for employers to meet short-term staffing needs without the administrative burden.

Here’s how it works:

• Initial Consultation: The agency consults with the employer to understand the role’s responsibilities, the team dynamics, required skills and personality fit, ensuring they find a suitable candidate that matches the company’s requirements.

• Candidate Sourcing: Drawing from a strong pool of pre-vetted candidates, often available immediately, the agency narrows down options to find the best-suited individuals. Agencies may present multiple candidates to the employer or recommend a top choice based on preferences.

• Interview Coordination: For roles that require a tailored approach, agencies arrange interviews so employers can assess candidates firsthand. This process ensures a good fit before final placement.

• Reference Checks & Advice: Agencies conduct thorough background and reference checks on candidates and provide guidance on market rates, helping employers attract top talent at competitive pay levels.

• Onboarding and Paperwork: Once a candidate is chosen, the agency handles all necessary paperwork, including contracts, compliance and tax-related documents. The agency can also guide the candidate through onboarding to facilitate a smooth start.

• Payroll Management: The temp agency employs the temp directly, overseeing payroll, taxes and benefits. Candidates are paid weekly through the agency’s payroll, with timesheets capturing hours worked and breaks.

• Ongoing Support and Adjustments: Throughout the assignment, the agency provides responsive support, regularly checking in to ensure the candidate’s fit and the business’s satisfaction. If the role’s requirements shift or a replacement is necessary, the agency acts quickly, adjusting staffing solutions to maintain productivity.

By handling each of these steps as a dedicated staffing partner, temp agencies allow businesses to access skilled workers quickly without the complexities of direct employment.

Dive deeper into how temp agencies work here.

Types of Temp Roles A Temping Agency Can Help Source

Temp agencies support various industries, offering temporary candidates that enable employers to fill skill gaps quickly.

Here are some common temporary positions that temp agencies can help you fill:

• Personal Assistants (PAs) and Executive Assistants: Essential for handling high-level administrative support, organising schedules and facilitating executive operations.

• Receptionists and Front Desk Staff: Perfect for managing first impressions, handling enquiries and providing front-line service, ideal for short-term cover.

• Office Managers and Administrative Assistants: These roles keep daily operations running smoothly, coordinating office supplies, managing vendor relationships and supporting internal teams.

• Customer Service Representatives: Temporary customer service staff provide support during peak seasons or large projects, ensuring clients receive timely and helpful responses.

• Finance and Accounting Staff: Positions like bookkeepers and junior accountants can provide financial assistance during audits, fiscal year-end or project-specific tasks.

• Specialised Roles for Industry-Specific Projects: Agencies can source temporary staff for healthcare, IT, marketing and more, connecting employers with expertise for project-based needs.

Learn more about the benefits of hiring a temp for your business.

Benefits of Hiring Through a Temping Agency

Save Time

Temp agencies excel in swiftly sourcing qualified candidates. With instant access to a broad talent pool, they solve staffing gaps quickly, conducting all background checks and reference verifications so employers can focus on immediate needs rather than lengthy recruitment.

For example, if a company needs urgent cover for a personal assistant, a temp agency can provide a pre-vetted candidate within days, eliminating a lengthy hiring process.

Reduce Costs

Hiring through a temp agency minimises expenses on benefits like pensions and holiday pay. Agencies provide trained, skilled workers, saving employers the cost of onboarding and recruitment fees, while competitive hourly rates make temping a cost-effective choice.

Decrease Workload

By managing the hiring process, temp agencies alleviate the HR team’s workload - you no longer need to spend time and effort producing a job description or interviewing candidates. Employers gain access to a wider candidate pool, often with hard-to-find expertise, freeing their time to focus on core business tasks.

Greater Access to Networks

Temp agencies have extensive networks, quickly matching employers with skilled candidates for short-term or project-specific roles. This network also supports companies looking to expand capabilities, bringing in new skill sets that help boost profitability and growth.

For example, a tech startup needing a temporary IT specialist can quickly access experienced talent that might otherwise be hard to find.

Higher Level of Expertise

Temporary hires often bring specialised knowledge or sector-specific training that would be difficult to find independently. Temp agencies provide candidates who closely match employers' requirements, offering immediate value to teams and allowing employers to make confident, quick hires.

Reduce Turnover

Short-term roles provide an ideal trial period for both the employer and candidate, allowing each to assess fit before making a long-term commitment. A marketing agency, for example, might trial a temp copywriter before offering a permanent role, reducing hiring risks and improving retention. Read more about hiring on a temp to perm basis.

How to Use a Temp Agency Effectively

To make the most of a temp agency, clear communication and effective planning are essential. Here are some practical tips to optimise your experience:

• Choose the Right Agency: Ensure you’re working with a reliable agency suited to your specific needs. Working with an agency that specialises in your industry will avoid mismatches.

  • Use Google to identify temping agencies specialising in your industry
  • Ask your network if they have good experience with a particular agency
  • Gather quotes to understand which agency fees fit with your budget
  • Work with industry-focused agencies, such as Oriel Partners for temporary office support

• Define Your Needs Clearly: A lack of specific requirements can lead to unsuitable placements. Outline the specific skills, experience, and personality traits required for the role. Providing detailed information upfront allows the agency to match you with the best-fit candidates.

• Brief the Agency on Team Dynamics: Without insight into team culture, placements may struggle to integrate. Let the agency know about your company culture and team environment. This helps them identify candidates who not only fit the role but also integrate smoothly with your existing staff.

• Consider Pre-Screened Options: Many temp agencies offer several candidates for consideration. If preferred, agencies can provide a shortlist based on your needs, allowing you to interview only the most suitable choices.

• Set Clear Expectations for the Assignment: Misaligned expectations can hinder productivity. Define timelines, deliverables, and unique requirements to ensure temp workers meet your needs from the start.

• Make Use of Agency Support: Temp agencies offer ongoing support during the placement. They provide quick adjustments and replacements and are equipped to resolve problems, so reach out if your needs change.

• By following these tips, businesses can avoid common pitfalls, ensuring smoother temporary placements and maximising benefits from temp staffing.

How Temporary Staffing Works for Businesses

Here is a step-by-step breakdown of how temporary staffing works, including what an employer is responsible for, what an agency is responsible for and how adjustments or issues are handled.

• Payment & Payroll: The business approves the temp’s timesheets to confirm hours worked. Based on this, the agency manages payroll and issues payments to the temp. The business then pays the agency directly, typically weekly or monthly, covering the temp’s wage plus the agency’s service fee.

• Contracting & Compliance: The agency handles contracts, legal compliance, and benefits, so the business doesn’t manage any employment-related paperwork.

• Adjusting Scope or Timeline: If needs change, the business can coordinate with the agency to adjust the role or extend the placement as required.

• Handling Issues or Replacements: If the temp isn’t a good fit, the agency promptly addresses concerns and provides a replacement if necessary.

• Potential Hiring of Temps: Temp roles can act as trial periods. If the business wants to hire the temp permanently, the agency assists with transitioning the worker, often with a conversion fee if agreed in advance.

Choose Oriel Partners for Your Temporary Staffing Needs

For flexible, expert support in hiring temporary PA, admin, and office roles, Oriel Partners is here to help! We handle recruitment, compliance, and payroll, freeing you from admin burdens so you can meet staffing needs swiftly and confidently. Choose Oriel Partners for high-quality temp recruitment without long-term commitments.