Your sister works at a large, well- known firm which has had trouble sustaining the kind of profit margins their shareholders want to see. In order to keep their numbers up over the years, they have tried every cost-cutting measure they could think of, including some that were of questionable legality. You know about this only because you and your sister talk regularly. You know that she is concerned about losing her job, as there have been many rounds of downsizing, and you have promised her that you would not disclose these matters to anyone. Yesterday, she told you that the firm has been using temp workers for about the last two years, and they are a continuing problem. They come from a temp agency, and there are new workers every month or so, whom she must train. They do little to no work all day, and they are seemingly accountable to no one, since the supervisors don't make them work, yet they still get paid. Your sister knows you are taking this Employment Law course, and she wants you to tell her whether what the company is doing with the temp workers is illegal. Is it?

Question

Your sister works at a large, well- known firm which has had trouble sustaining the kind of profit margins their shareholders want to see. In order to keep their numbers up over the years, they have tried every cost-cutting measure they could think of, including some that were of questionable legality.  You know about this only because you and your sister talk regularly. You know that she is concerned about losing her job, as there have been many rounds of downsizing, and you have promised her that you would not disclose these matters to anyone.  Yesterday, she told you that the firm has been using temp workers for about the last two years, and they are a continuing problem.  They come from a temp agency, and there are new workers every month or so, whom she must train. They do little to no work all day, and they are seemingly accountable to no one, since the supervisors don't make them work, yet they still get paid.  Your sister knows you are taking this Employment Law course, and she wants you to tell her whether what the company is doing with the temp workers is illegal.  Is it? ​

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The use of temp workers and the issues described (lack of productivity, frequent turnover, lack of accountability) do not inherently constitute illegal activities under employment law. The legality would depend on specific laws being violated, such as labor rights or contractual obligations, which are not detailed in the scenario provided.

Your Sister Works at a Large, Well- Known Firm Which