Tradesmen International, LLC

Tradesmen is a great place to work. I have been employed by Tradesmen international for over 23 years. The office employees are awesome and are more than willing to help with any need you may have.
Apr 24th, 2023

The local representatives are awesome but corporate is ignorant. They can't decide how they want to receive your time card and when they lose it you're the one waiting all weekend for your pay.
May 7th, 2019

Nov 21st, 2016

Jan 23rd, 2016

Shalom This is a temp agency disguised as a permanent employer. That is the honest truth. Since I'm not here to disparage the Company, I'll give an objective review. Most Temp agencies offer to place you with the client after you complete a 30-90 day trial period, contingent on if the client is satisfied with your performance and wants to hire you. Tradesmen, however, do not allow this. According to what I've been told by at least two client-owners from two different jobs I worked at, the client would have to "buy" my contract (amount was not disclosed) from Tradesmen before the client could offer me a job. I give that two thumbs down, one for each hand. The pay can start around $15 general laborer/Helper 1. That was four years ago. It could go up to $18/hour. On rare occasions I had the opportunity to speak with certain individuals in regards to what Tradesmen charges the client for our services. Tradesmen were always reluctant to reveal such details. The amount they charge the client (per hour) and what they give you is astonishingly different! They take a hefty commission along with workers comp and other fees. That info should be automatically disclosed to the worker once we start. It most certainly is not. At least workers comp allows us to get jobs in Construction and other high risk jobs without having to carry our own policy. I'd still love to know how much I'm losing by having them do it for me. It's a service they provide, but at what cost to the worker?! Tradesmen offer jobs in Construction, Assembly and other meaningful Trades which the standard and more clerical type temp agencies typically shy away from. Skilled Craftsmen (Journeyman and Master level Craftsmen) are obviously on a higher pay scale, at least $20-$30 an hour. If you are unskilled, some apprenticeship experience can be gained, but it may take a very long time to get a well rounded resume. They cannot guarantee continual work since the jobs last from a month to over a year at a time, and then end. You may sit one day between jobs waiting for re-assignment, or up to a month, even indefinitely. From certain Skilled Craftsmen, I have heard varying experiences concerning getting back to work right away. Some say that advanced experience doesn't always entitle you to readily available work. It may be that you limit yourself to certain jobs based on your specific skills. Being "over qualified", in other words. As far as the details concerning work availability, why it is the way it is, where and so forth; Tradesmen was always as clear as mud. Last winter I waited almost two months between jobs and that was after gaining two years of valuable experience working alongside a variety of skilled Craftsmen, from electricians, welders, plumbers, carpenters, masonry to general contractors!! I was even told, 'Well it's a bit slow now because of the weather.' Then why is it my fault I don't qualify for benefits? Benefits are only given if you work a certain amount of hours per year. Contact them for those details concerning benefit qualifications, if you dare. This is where it gets sketchy. If you are not always offered work, how is it your fault you don't accrue enough hours to qualify for benefits? It almost sounds like a scam, doesn't it? Temp agencies are notorious for these type of practices. Tradesmen will "try" to convince you that they always have work, yet, it's never guaranteed. It's a type of gamble, is what it is. It's also a faulty policy, and one that needs revision. At any time and for any reason a client can dismiss us. That puts us at home and by the phone waiting for a phone call from Tradesmen and at their mercy. I've recently been made aware that the insurance (and insurance in general) is not what they originally claimed. Apparently, it is slowly getting worse. Personally I'm glad I quit them once and for all over 4 months ago. It may be a place you can utilize. It may not be. I do hope this information proves beneficial for you. Shalom
Jan 26th, 2023