Most of what gets written about construction staffing agencies is aimed at the companies hiring through them. If you are the one looking for work, the questions are different: how do you get paid, how do you get placed, and what are you actually signing up for. Here is the straight answer to each, with the specifics at Cruitfly.
You apply once, and the agency places you on projects as work becomes available, so you do not have to apply to every employer separately. At Cruitfly it goes like this:
Cruitfly also runs its own training program, SafeCru Academy, for environmental and construction fields, and supports training from other EPA-approved and accredited providers.
The agency, not the job-site company, is your employer for pay, tax withholding and most HR questions, even though you work on someone else's project. Your day-to-day direction comes from the site supervisor, but your paycheck, your tax forms and your HR contact all run through the agency. If something is wrong with your pay or hours, call the agency, not the general contractor.
Good questions to ask before you start:
At Cruitfly, every worker placed is a W-2 Cruitfly employee, without exception. That means Cruitfly withholds your taxes and carries workers' compensation, unemployment insurance and the employment relationship. Some other arrangements in the industry classify workers as 1099 independent contractors, and the difference matters to you:
| W-2 employee | 1099 independent contractor | |
|---|---|---|
| Who withholds your taxes | The employer, from every paycheck | You, on your own |
| Minimum wage and overtime protections | Covered | Generally not covered |
| Workers' compensation | Provided by the employer | Usually your own responsibility |
| Control over schedule and methods | Set by the employer and the site | Usually yours |
The classification is a legal question, not a label the company can pick. The U.S. Department of Labor notes that misclassified workers may miss out on minimum wage, overtime and other protections (U.S. Department of Labor). Before accepting any placement, with any agency, ask in writing whether you will be a W-2 employee.
By the staffing agency. It handles your pay, tax withholding and most HR matters, while your site supervisor directs the daily work.
At Cruitfly every worker is a W-2 employee. Other agencies may differ, so confirm the classification in writing before you accept a placement.
With an agency that offers temp-to-hire, yes. At Cruitfly a placement can convert to the client's payroll after a negotiated number of hours worked.
It depends on the trade. At Cruitfly you need the legal documentation to work, plus the necessary training certification or proven work experience. Most Cruitfly workers carry OSHA 10, especially when the client requires it. Every asbestos worker Cruitfly places holds a current asbestos license issued by the state where the project is located. On Indiana abatement projects, that means an IDEM asbestos license.
Complete the Cruitfly application, in English or Spanish.
Working through a construction staffing agency means the agency pays you, withholds your taxes and handles most of your HR questions, while your day-to-day work happens on someone else's project. Confirm the pay cycle, your W-2 status and whether temp-to-hire is possible before you accept a placement. Cruitfly places skilled tradespeople in asbestos abatement, demolition, scaffold carpentry, insulation and general construction. Apply here to see what is available.
Cody is co-owner of Cruitfly, where he leads business development and works with commercial and industrial contractors to staff abatement, demolition, insulation, and scaffolding crews across the country. Connect with Cody on LinkedIn.
Need a certified crew on site? Tell us the project, the start date and the certifications you need. Typical fill is 48 to 72 hours, and every worker is a W2 Cruitfly employee covered by our workers' compensation. Prefer to talk? Call 317-426-7703.