Temporary help services : their role in offices of selected business firms in Jackson, Mississippi 1979

The purposes of the study were (1) to determine the role of temporary office help services in Jackson, Mississippi, and (2) to identify the implications for the training of office workers. Answers to the following questions were sought:

Temporary Help Services

1. How widespread is the use of temporary help services in the business community?

2. What are the requirements for temporary work applicants?

3. What selection devices are used for choosing temporary workers?

4. How are customers' job needs identified by the temporary help service?

5. How are temporary help service workers chosen for the job?

6. What procedures are used to ensure satisfaction with services?

Customers

7. What are the reasons for use of temporary help services?

8. How do customers perceive the role of temporary help services?

Temporary Help Service Workers

9. What are the reasons temporary help workers choose temporary employment?

10. What are the qualifications of selected temporary help service workers?

11. How well are qualifications utilized on the job?

Questionnaires and personal interviews were conducted with 3 temporary help service managers, 28 customers who used the temporary help services, and 27 temporary workers in Jackson, Mississippi. The customers and the temporary workers were obtained through the Classified Firm Membership Directory of the Jackson Chamber of Commerce and from the files of Kelly Services, Inc., Kelly Girl Division, respectively.

The implications of the findings of the study were as follows:

1. High school students should be made aware of the temporary help service as a source of employment.

2. Temporary help services could provide a variety of work experience for students as well as business teachers during the summer.

3. Students could benefit from the evaluations and interviews provided by temporary help services.

4. Working for temporary help services could give students an insight into a variety of jobs in business.

5. Clerical as well as secretarial type positions are available through temporary help services.