The Red Guide to Temp Agencies

Review of Essex Temporary Services

Browse Back

Search the Red Guide Challenge Database for information from the staff of Essex Temporary Services, or agencies with similar names.

Browse Forward

1501 Broadway Ste. 601
New York, NY 10036
212-391-1515

212-382-3685

Total time with agency:
2 months

Wait for first assignment:
3 Days

Average wait between assignments:

Last five jobs:

Job Title	Length	Client	Hourly Wage	Typical of agency?
Clerical	2 Months	Directly employed with Essex	13	Y
				Y
				Y
				Y
				Y

Tests given:
MS Word, Excel, Typing, WonderLic personality test

Payroll policies:
On-site time sheet pickup: Y
Direct deposit of payroll checks: Y
Free check cashing at agency's bank:

Benefits:
Medical insurance: Y
Dental insurance: Y
Paid vacation:
Transportation allowance:
Entertainment allowance:
Matching contributions:

Comments:
I am an employee of Essex. I have been employed with them for a little over a month. I came to Essex as an applicant and was offered a position with them. I was unaware of many of the other REPUTABLE staffing firms in the area, and Essex was the first one that I came across.

Since employed with them, I have found their business practices to be extremely shady and unethical. For instance, they require you to sign a nondisclosure agreement which states that you will not (1) go to work for another staffing agency in the area for a period of two years after leaving Essex, whether voluntarily or involuntarily and (2) that you will not seek or gain employment with any company that Essex has either (a) done business with, (b) is doing business with, or (c) is trying to do business with.

Although this may not have anything to do with applicants coming in to be placed through Essex, it says a lot about their business practices. They treat their employees poorly and the turnover there is astronomically high. I was once told that in the last 6 months, they lost over 40 employees.

From a regular applicant's point of view, the company is just as unappealing. Essex requires you to work at 50% (or more) less than you originally went in for. For example, if you went in at 24k a year, they would only pay you 7.50 an hour for the first 65 days (I can disclose this ethically because this is something that is told to all their applicants and is not a violation of any confidentiality agreement, expressed or implied).

I have this to say to job seekers abroad; GO ELSEWHERE!!! There are dozens of staffing firms in the tri-state area that will not try to pull a fast one on you simply because you're desperate to find a job. What they are doing to applicants (requiring them to work at an insanely low pay rate, especially in an area where the cost of living is so high) is nothing less than highway robbery. Don't go to Essex; they're a rip off.

Alwayz,
"Alyx"

Reporter:
"Alyx"

Email:

Date:
Thu Sep 25 17:17:18 EST 2003

Browse Back

Search the Red Guide Challenge Database for information from the staff of Essex Temporary Services, or agencies with similar names.

Browse Forward

Review Database	Challenge Database	Introduction
What's New	Tips for Temps	Review Form

The Red Guide to Temp Agencies is copyright 1994-2004 by Angus B. Grieve-Smith.
It may be reproduced in its entirety, but may not be sold for profit or reproduced in part without written permission of the Editor.

Feel free to email me with questions or comments. Please do NOT email me your resume. I am not an employer, and I cannot get you a job. If you send me your resume anyway, I will report it to your internet provider. My email address is grvsmth@panix.com.