Employment Agencies

Nephythys · 12-07-2009, 11:05 AM

Does anyone have any opinions or experience with employment agencies that charge the employee a fee based on the job they find them?

katiesue · 12-07-2009, 11:24 AM

I've never used one but from my understanding when I've been looking most are a scam. Good employment agencies will get their fees from the employers not the candidates.

Stan4dSteph · 12-07-2009, 11:25 AM

Sounds like a scam to me. They shouldn't be charging the employees a fee, they should be charging the employers. Stay away.

mousepod · 12-07-2009, 11:29 AM

Add my vote to the "scam" theory. The employer should always pay the fee.

Alex · 12-07-2009, 11:38 AM

Except in the case perhaps of very specialized job placement companies you should not pay a fee. All fees should be paid by the employer to agency.

That said, if we're talking temp work (or temp-to-hire) the amount per hour you get paid will be less than the amount per hour the company will pay your agency. If that is what they mean by a fee ("you get $9/hour and they'll pay $12/hour") then that is normal.

Definitely never EVER pay a fee just to get them to look for work for you.

Jazzman · 12-07-2009, 12:24 PM

Isn't that called a pimp anyways?

Kevy Baby · 12-07-2009, 04:47 PM

To me, it sounds like a scam. I tried to see if there was anything on Snopes on this in particular, but didn't find anything.

I DID find out something else along similar lines through:

Women in Germany face the loss of unemployment benefits if they decline to accept work in brothels.

(Not true, but it amused me none-the-less)

lashbear · 12-07-2009, 04:58 PM

Same in Australia - Employer pays the fee. (with the exception outlined by Alex above).

BarTopDancer · 12-07-2009, 05:17 PM

Add my vote for a scam too. Legit agencies and headhunters work for the employer and are paid by the employer.

Nephythys · 12-07-2009, 07:31 PM

It went like this-

We have 3 jobs we would suggest for you. We get 10% of your first years income. Minimum of a third up front.
If you lose that job for any reasonable cause in the first 90 days we have 15 days to find you a new job. If not, you are off the hook for paying the fee. If you keep the job you make payments yourself for the rest of the year.

Um, no. I am not going to magically come up with $1400 plus to pay a fee to help him find a job when I can't even pay the mortgage.

No thanks.

12-07-2009, 11:05 AM	#1
Nephythys Yeah, that's about it- Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: In a state of constant crap to get done Posts: 2,688	Employment Agencies Does anyone have any opinions or experience with employment agencies that charge the employee a fee based on the job they find them?
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12-07-2009, 11:24 AM	#2
katiesue Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: San Diego Posts: 4,678	I've never used one but from my understanding when I've been looking most are a scam. Good employment agencies will get their fees from the employers not the candidates. __________________ My life is so exciting I can hardly stand it.
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12-07-2009, 11:25 AM	#3
Stan4dSteph Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: East Bay Area, CA Posts: 3,156	Sounds like a scam to me. They shouldn't be charging the employees a fee, they should be charging the employers. Stay away.
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12-07-2009, 11:29 AM	#4
mousepod You broke your Ramadar! Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 4,635	Add my vote to the "scam" theory. The employer should always pay the fee. __________________ "Give the public everything you can give them, keep the place as clean as you can keep it, keep it friendly" - Walt Disney
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12-07-2009, 11:38 AM	#5
Alex . Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 13,354	Except in the case perhaps of very specialized job placement companies you should not pay a fee. All fees should be paid by the employer to agency. That said, if we're talking temp work (or temp-to-hire) the amount per hour you get paid will be less than the amount per hour the company will pay your agency. If that is what they mean by a fee ("you get $9/hour and they'll pay $12/hour") then that is normal. Definitely never EVER pay a fee just to get them to look for work for you.
	Submit to Quotes

12-07-2009, 12:24 PM	#6
Jazzman Sax God Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Portland's Tijuana Posts: 510	Isn't that called a pimp anyways?
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12-07-2009, 04:47 PM	#7
Kevy Baby Chowder Head Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Yes Posts: 18,500	To me, it sounds like a scam. I tried to see if there was anything on Snopes on this in particular, but didn't find anything. I DID find out something else along similar lines through: Women in Germany face the loss of unemployment benefits if they decline to accept work in brothels. (Not true, but it amused me none-the-less) __________________ The thing about quotes on the internet is that you cannot verify their validity. - Abraham Lincoln
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12-07-2009, 04:58 PM	#8
lashbear SwishBuckling Bear Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: In Isolation :) Posts: 6,597	Same in Australia - Employer pays the fee. (with the exception outlined by Alex above). __________________ *I Heart* my Husband - I can't think of anyone I'd rather be in isolation with.**
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12-07-2009, 05:17 PM	#9
BarTopDancer Prepping... Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Here, there, everywhere Posts: 11,405	Add my vote for a scam too. Legit agencies and headhunters work for the employer and are paid by the employer. __________________ Spork is the new MacGyver Postcards From My Edge
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12-07-2009, 07:31 PM	#10
Nephythys Yeah, that's about it- Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: In a state of constant crap to get done Posts: 2,688	It went like this- We have 3 jobs we would suggest for you. We get 10% of your first years income. Minimum of a third up front. If you lose that job for any reasonable cause in the first 90 days we have 15 days to find you a new job. If not, you are off the hook for paying the fee. If you keep the job you make payments yourself for the rest of the year. Um, no. I am not going to magically come up with $1400 plus to pay a fee to help him find a job when I can't even pay the mortgage. No thanks.
	Submit to Quotes