PTO for Temp & Agency Workers
Understand your PTO rights as a temporary or agency worker. Learn what benefits you're entitled to and how state laws may protect you.
PTO for Temporary Workers
Temporary and contract workers often have different PTO arrangements. Some receive PTO from their staffing agency. Others receive no PTO but higher hourly rates to compensate. Some states mandate sick leave for all workers.
Who's Your Employer?
As a temp/agency worker, the staffing agency is typically your legal employer. PTO policies come from them, not the client company. Ask your agency about their specific benefits.
State Sick Leave Laws
Many state sick leave laws cover temporary workers: California, Washington, Oregon, and others include temp workers. These laws provide minimum paid sick time regardless of employment type.
Temp-to-Perm Transitions
If you convert to permanent, you typically start fresh with the company's PTO policy. Some companies credit time worked as a temp toward accrual rates. Negotiate this during the conversion.