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Defenders of Justice
Justice Circle Survey reveals pervasiveness of poverty pay, permatemping, deceptive recruitment practices, and other job quality issues
This report was produced by Temp Worker Justice, Chicago Workers Collaborative, Mississippi Workers’ Center for Human Rights, the National Employment Law Project, New Labor, the North Carolina Justice Center, and Warehouse Workers for Justice
Key findings from the TWJ Survey Series:
- Wage theft: Nearly 1 in 4 (24 percent of) temp workers reported that, while working as a temp, their employers have stolen wages from them in at least one of three ways—paid less than the minimum wage, failed to pay the overtime rate, or failed to pay for all hours worked.
- “Permatemping”: More than 1 in 3 (35 percent of) temp workers reported that their current temp assignment had lasted over one year, and 18 percent reported that their current temp assignment had lasted over two years.
- Workplace injury: More than 1 in 6 (17 percent of) temp workers reported experiencing a work-related injury or illness while employed through a staffing agency. Of those workers who reported experiencing a work-related injury or illness, 41 percent said that they covered healthcare costs themselves, out of pocket, or through their own health insurance.
- Employer retaliation: Nearly 3 in 4 (71 percent of) temp workers said that they experienced some form of retaliation for raising workplace issues with a supervisor or management.
- Interest in joining a worker organization: Fully 4 in 5 (80 percent of) temp workers reported interest in joining a worker organization like a union that works to improve conditions for temp workers.