On-Demand Staffing
July 1, 2025

How Does Temp Staffing Work?

A guide for how temp staffing works for both workers and businesses.

Bacon Inc

Temp staffing is a type of staffing service where a business makes an arrangement with a labor agency near them to send workers. These workers work on a temporary basis and are employed through the temp agency. 

Temp staffing works when a business signs a contract with a temp agency for a set amount of workers to come work at their business. 

Businesses use temp staffing to fill general labor staffing roles such as, packing a box in a warehouse or serving food at an event. 

There are two types of staffing services that provide temp staffing. The first is the traditional temp agencies near you and the second is online staffing platforms. 

This is a guide for how temp staffing works for both workers and businesses. 

How Traditional Temp Agencies Work

Traditional temp agencies are what we think of as the basic temp staffing solution. 

For Businesses

To use a traditional temp agency a business contacts the agency and submits a request for temporary labor near me. The agency takes care of sourcing the temp labor and sends them to the business for the time outlined in the contract. 

Communication between the business and workers happens with the temp agency as a middleman. Communication can only happen via phone or email. 

Traditional temp agencies offer limited control over shifts, the temp agency sets the hourly wage and usually decides how long they can provide the workers. 

Temp agencies often are slower to respond to urgent or last-minute needs as their processes are largely manual. So finding temp staff for your business could take weeks with a temp agency. 

For Workers

Workers joining a temp agency apply or register via paperwork. The temp agency usually performs a background check. The worker then waits for a call to be assigned to a shift. 

Workers have little to no control over job selection and paychecks are routed through the temp agency.  

How Online Staffing Platforms Work

Online staffing platforms are the modern day tech driven temp agency. Staffing platforms have online processes which helps them have a much faster turnaround. 

For Businesses

For a business to use a staffing app they first sign up and create a business account. Then they post the shifts they need filled. Staffing app Bacon has template features that allow businesses to create templates that allow for faster shift postings in the future. 

Businesses have complete control over their shifts. They choose head count, requirements, shift hours and shift wages. Once a shift posting is completed it’s pushed to thousands of temp workers near you. 

Workers then choose which shifts they apply for. Businesses view worker profiles and ratings to decide who to accept on the shift. Bacon cumulates performance based data into the Bacon Score to aid businesses in this decision. After a shift is complete businesses verify and rate workers.

Communication and immediate feedback are built into the platform. Workers and businesses can communicate directly through the chat feature. 

Staffing platforms scale easily for daily, seasonal, or project-based demand.  

For Workers

For workers to use staffing apps they download the app and create a profile. Bacon then does a background check and verifies a workers tax identification number. 

Then workers can view the shifts available in their area. Workers choose shifts that match their schedule and preferences. 

Workers can build a reputation through reviews and ratings. A good reputation will earn them more opportunities for future shifts.  

Communication and payment happens through the app so payment is much quicker through staffing platforms. 

Choosing the Right Model for Your Business

Understanding how temp staffing works helps managers make informed decisions. Each business has unique needs and should choose the right model for their needs. 

Warehouses that need warehouse temp staffing that can scale up or down to meet variable demand should choose a staffing solution, such as Bacon, built for flexibility. 

Businesses struggling to find temp employees and fill staffing gaps should explore online platforms like Bacon. Consider the tech-forward, flexible model that puts control back in your hands.

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