American Workforce Disaster: Temporary Work Cycles

For many years, I've known friends, and former colleagues who have fallen into the realm of temporary work assignments. Many are educated, sharp, and hard-working. For the most part, utilizing these temporary employment agencies fills an immediate need, and may stave off an imminent financial crisis. However, In such a situation, far too often many of these people fall into a perpetual cycle within the temp assignment world. In the process, resumes are skewed, experience diminished, self esteem plummets, and people become disheartened--happens to the best of us.

Here's my issue with consulting/temp work: There's no real 401k, benefits, nor foreseeable future with the company in which they render a valuable service--they're just a disposable piece of property.

Here's where I'm going: the temp industry should be challenged as they've largely failed hard working people seeking permanent work. Put it before Congress, and create laws that govern the activity of this particular industry.

Require transparency--the agencies being honest as to whether or not an assignment will go permanent. Pay above standard rates, and create a government watch-dog, or add incentives to qualified non-profit organizations to monitor these agencies, thereby having a system of checks and balances to ensure that agencies will create assignments that result in permanent work. There should be a threshold as it relates to the success of permanent placement. If failed, then these agencies should come under review.

Your thoughts would be appreciated.

Bj