When Manpower Services established themselves in Hong Kong in 1997, they discovered a big gap in the employment sector. There were many recruitment agencies ready to supply qualified permanent staff to employers, but few specialised in supplying qualified temporary staff for assignments that ranged in length from one day to 12 months or more.
Although such services were common in other parts of the world, the idea was somewhat new in Hong Kong and few existing agencies had the necessary administrative infrastructure to handle client requests. Not only is it necessary for an agency to have dedicated staff to juggle job assignments for large numbers of temporary staff, but also it must be financially sound in order to meet the payroll obligations each month. Because client companies are invoiced for employment services after the temporaries have been paid, the agency must be able to make an advance cash outlay on a rolling basis.
Deborah Morgan, general manager of Manpower Services Hong Kong, says the agency has years of experience and a global network to rely upon in facing the complexities of running a temporary staffing agency. When the company set up in Hong Kong some employment agencies were offering temporary services, but they were not very sophisticated.
Because the permanent recruiting industry was so strong agencies often 'dabbled'' in temporary recruitment, the temporary staffing market was not as established as it is now, says Ms Morgan, adding that all temporary employees are paid in accordance with the Labour Ordinance, which means they receive all the statutory benefits that they are entitled to. Manpower's professionalism has propelled them to the top, as the firm is now the leading temporary staffing agency in the SAR and one of the leading firms worldwide. To recognise outstanding efforts by its temporary employees, Manpower has organised the Tiffany Award. Held every three months, this scheme helps build morale.
'The temporaries are our employees, but because they are out in different offices, it is sometimes very difficult for them to be recognised for the work they do,'' Ms Morgan says. 'They can feel confused as to whether they belong to the client, or whether Manpower is really their employer.'' Assessments are generated based on employer feedback, with detailed questionnaires relating to key performance indicators on a range of job-related competencies. The award is part of the employee-recognition scheme and is awarded throughout the group's global offices.
In addition, the award helps educate temporary employees that their work is valued by the company and clients.'What we are trying to achieve is to send a message to the marketplace that temporary staffing is the way to go now as a way of employment,'' Ms Morgan says. 'Hong Kong is in a very difficult position because a lot of candidates don't view temporary work as a profession or a real job. What we are saying is with the economy the way it is, temporary staffing is a very real thing.''