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Beware of Disreputable Construction Staffing Companies

By: Howard Watkin, Sat Dec 17th, 2005 02:04:40 AM

Recently I have heard several horror stories about construction staffing companies.

From the employers point staffing companies can save valuable time in recruiting for shut down or fast track projects. It also alleviates the problem of added payroll and personnel task. On the other hand a less than reputable company may do you more harm than good. Many of them are poorly qualified to screen employees. Their screening skills are limited to recognizing a few buzzwords and popular companies. Many of them intentionally deceive potential employees and misrepresent your intent.

If the employees are disgruntled with the staffing company they may not give you the best performance or even stay until the completion of your project. It could result in a bad reflection on your company from your clients experience and may even make it difficult for you to recruit good employees in the future.

For the employee a reputable staffing company can save a lot of precious time and resources in the constant quest for rewarding projects. One thing you must remember is that these companies represent the employer and see you as only a resource. They are not your personal agent. Before signing onboard with any of the staffing companies you should ask a lot of questions and get firm commitments. A lot of problems come from misunderstandings and blatant deceit.

Common problems are late or misplaced checks, faulty accommodations, misunderstanding about project duration, work hours, per-diem travel pay, front money and salary. There are also numerous reports of unexpected deductions and overcharges for lodging. Beware of any recruiter who recommends a third party to spruce up your resume. This is always a scam.

Many construction staffing companies do not have the necessary capital or client base to do the best job for you as an employer or employee. Too many of them are just one or two person operations. Some of them seem to only have a handful of clients. Others seem to just read the same help wanted ads that we read.

Some staffing companies advertise for jobs that do not exist for the purpose of gathering data. From your resume they find out exactly whom you worked for and how much you were paid. They can now add your former employer to the list of companies to canvas using the information gleaned from your resume. They get sales leads, you get zip.

Before going out on a limb with any of these companies be sure to investigate thoroughly. Get recommendations from acquaintances that have had good experiences with them. Contact the client to get the real lowdown about the project. A good company will have no secrets in this respect.

Last but not least spread the word about the GOOD THE BAD AND THE UGLY

About the author: Howard Watkins is the webmaster and editor of brassmein.com. The Construction professional's information source.

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