Temp workers underwhelming

[Anonymous]

I started managing two temp workers for my boss. They are completely inept. Since some of the responsibility of training is my duty, I feel like it makes me look bad. However, I found out how much they're making ($10/hr. in a major midwestern city), I think it's ridiculous to assume that someone who would take that much would have true working knowledge of excel and other computer programs. My boss is starting to get frustrated at me and them. How should I bring up the fact that we probably won't get someone decent for that price? Am I being ridiculous?

[Anonymous]

I don't think you are being ridiculous. As a straight outta college temp in 2008, I made $14 / hour (but in the D.C. area), and my job didn't even require more than the most basic knowledge of Excel (think: being able to type in cells, no need for formulas).

If you found a good temp and eventually hired him or her, would there be opportunity for growth in your organization? One of the only reasons I even hung around at that $14 job was that it was a temp-to-hire position at a huge org where I knew I would be able to make a career, if I wanted it. I have been there ever since.

Oh, and I learned Excel on the job so well that people all over my building call me for advice.

[Anonymous]

Ask the temp agency to replace them with temps who have the skills you need.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ask the temp agency to replace them with temps who have the skills you need.

This. This is the beauty of temps. You are not stuck with them and you have no obligation to keep sucky ones around.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I started managing two temp workers for my boss. They are completely inept. Since some of the responsibility of training is my duty, I feel like it makes me look bad. However, I found out how much they're making ($10/hr. in a major midwestern city), I think it's ridiculous to assume that someone who would take that much would have true working knowledge of excel and other computer programs. My boss is starting to get frustrated at me and them. How should I bring up the fact that we probably won't get someone decent for that price? Am I being ridiculous?

Nope. You are paying them shit wages, so you are not likely to get great workers. Sometimes you might luck out, but the odds are not in your favor. The people with better skills are not going to work for that. You need to go to the temp agency and ask for more qualified people, and be willing to pay a little more.

[Anonymous]

Wage aside, do their resumes match up with their job title/responsibilities? For example, I wouldn't expect a 50 y/o former waitress to be as competent as a fresh 22y/o fresh college grad when it comes to data input.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I started managing two temp workers for my boss. They are completely inept. Since some of the responsibility of training is my duty, I feel like it makes me look bad. However, I found out how much they're making ($10/hr. in a major midwestern city), I think it's ridiculous to assume that someone who would take that much would have true working knowledge of excel and other computer programs. My boss is starting to get frustrated at me and them. How should I bring up the fact that we probably won't get someone decent for that price? Am I being ridiculous?

Geez, seriously? I did a summer as a temp while I was in college back in 1989... and even back then I made $12/hr.
But I did know excel and could type 60wpm... but still... that was nearly 30 years ago.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I started managing two temp workers for my boss. They are completely inept. Since some of the responsibility of training is my duty, I feel like it makes me look bad. However, I found out how much they're making ($10/hr. in a major midwestern city), I think it's ridiculous to assume that someone who would take that much would have true working knowledge of excel and other computer programs. My boss is starting to get frustrated at me and them. How should I bring up the fact that we probably won't get someone decent for that price? Am I being ridiculous?

Nope. You are paying them shit wages, so you are not likely to get great workers. Sometimes you might luck out, but the odds are not in your favor. The people with better skills are not going to work for that. You need to go to the temp agency and ask for more qualified people, and be willing to pay a little more.

Agree. You get what you pay for and $10 an hour, you're gonna get basic data entry at best.

[Anonymous]

I know that unless there was the possibility of a 'temp to hire' situation, I put in very little effort at any temp job I ever had. I always got the job done and done well, but I wasn't busting my ass to do it or doing it with excitement.

They always consisted of menial tasks that no one else wanted to do for around $15/hr (8 years ago in the DC area). Sorry I'm not super eager to be standing in your dusty file room, filing 8 months worth of files that other people couldn't seem to find the time to do themselves. I'm just here for the $15/hr and lack of fried food smell lingering on my person once leaving work, you know?

Also, most of my time while at temp jobs was spent looking for a permanent job that paid more than $15/hr and didn't just consist of mind-numbing grunt work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know that unless there was the possibility of a 'temp to hire' situation, I put in very little effort at any temp job I ever had. I always got the job done and done well, but I wasn't busting my ass to do it or doing it with excitement.

They always consisted of menial tasks that no one else wanted to do for around $15/hr (8 years ago in the DC area). Sorry I'm not super eager to be standing in your dusty file room, filing 8 months worth of files that other people couldn't seem to find the time to do themselves. I'm just here for the $15/hr and lack of fried food smell lingering on my person once leaving work, you know?

Also, most of my time while at temp jobs was spent looking for a permanent job that paid more than $15/hr and didn't just consist of mind-numbing grunt work.

+1 Unless this is a temp to hire situation, why should they go above and beyond? Particularly for $10/hr.

[Anonymous]

Holiday retail pays more than that. Your boss is paying a lot more to the temp agency, I'm sure. You guys need to go back to them for more qualified workers.

[Anonymous]

I temped last year in Arlington - $12/hr for Beacon Hill.

[Anonymous]

Did you tell the temp agency that you expected them to know excel, etc.? What skills are they supposed to have?

[Anonymous]

Employers have gotten spoiled since the great recession. Well, now demographics are going to slaughter their personnel budgets.

You get what you pay for. For $10 an hour, I'd expect it to be some kind of job training program for former convicts or people with severe disabilities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wage aside, do their resumes match up with their job title/responsibilities? For example, I wouldn't expect a 50 y/o former waitress to be as competent as a fresh 22y/o fresh college grad when it comes to data input.

Let's hope no one ever feels that way about you when you turn 50.