If you get a temp job, and then after you start, someone else offers you a better job, can you quit the temp?

Question

before your assignment is over?

Answer 1

Of course. In a temp situation you're certainly at-will, and no employer is allowed to prevent you from taking another job. As an office manager for 6 years I had this happen to me several times. The temp service just sent someone else over and we started again.

Answer 2

Unless you signed some sort of contract - absolutely yes.

Try and give as much notice as you can. Leave on a good note - you never know - you might be doing business with them again some way or another.

That being said, look at it the other way around. The company you are doing this for is not willing to make you full time. They probably fired some full time people and only hire temps when it is busy. And if things slow down in the temp job you are now doing - they won't hesitate to send you packing. That is why a temp is a temp and not a full time employee.

Answer 3

My brother and dad have gone through the temp agency before. I would give a two week notice so if you start the other job and find you hate it or lose it for some reason, that agency won't decline to help you in the future. It's always best not to burn bridges! On top of that it looks better that you didn't just quit! Good luck with the new job!

Answer 4

Alot of folks fear making a mistake in career matters. Trust thast if you follow your heart, with your mind, and consider your needs your new employer and finishing your present job well, you will not make a wrong decision. So your options are boundless, but here are a few.

1. Ask the employer if you can work out terms to finish your present job.
2. Advise the agency of the offer, and that you want to finish well with them, and don't want to leave them in a lurch.


Explaining your situation and your interest in professionalism will go a long way and with that in mind, and no one can fault you for that. As others said earlier, Temp work is bi-directional- when the terms stop suiting the agency, the employer or you all have a right to call for a change.

Best wishes for your continued success.

Answer 5

Of course you can. There may be provision that the temp agency would like you to fulfill, but they have to be spelled out in the contract you signed with them. If the new job has nothing to do with any referral the temp agency sent you on, you should be free and clear. Just do the right thing, and tell the agency and the employer that you're leaving, and give them a week's notice.

Answer 6

You can. You just go and tell the temp agency the situation. You may be putting them in a difficult position though. The earlier you tell them the better it is because they can find somebody quickly and you can even train the new person for them. You may even offer a couple of hours to train the person and not get paid if you want to keep the nice relationship with the agency.

Answer 7

Yes, but be very professional about it by letting the temp agency know the situation.
-I used to be a recruiter for a temp agency and I understoody some of the temporary employees were also looking for permanent work and were interviewing. By giving me advanced notice I was able to find a replacement for the person leaving.

Answer 8

Yes, you can change jobs in the middle of an assignment but do not expect to return to that Temp service if the better job does not pan out.
you will also loose your job reference from that temp service.
think twice about it.

Answer 9

Let me put it this way, if you had a permanent job recently and you go a better offer you would quit you job provided you give notice. I think you can quit based on the nature of your contract. I know someone who worked for a week and left the firm for a greater offer

Answer 10

yes you can do what ever you wish , but keep in mind the temp agency will most likley hesitate to use you in the future should you need there services again ......... I would dump the temp job and start the real job Asap .........