For businesses
Employer FAQ: staffing questions, answered.
ETS Workforce Solutions answers the questions employers ask before working with a staffing agency: cost, speed, contracts and who employs the worker. If yours is not here, call (518) 562-4673 and ask.
Still stuck? Call a recruiter
Plattsburgh and Troy: (518) 562-4673
Williston: (802) 540-1070
The short version
The four things people ask first.
These four answers cover what most employers want to know first.
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You pay when someone works
There is no retainer for contract work, no fee to post a job and no charge for the search. You pay once a person is working.
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You are never locked in
Contract to hire has no fee if you don’t hire, and contingent direct hire is non-exclusive. You can stop at any point without owing us for the work done so far.
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We tell you when we cannot help
If the pay is below market, if the role is two jobs in one, or if we do not have the right people, you hear it on the first call.
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Your name stays off public postings
We never put a client name in a public job posting, so a confidential search stays confidential.
How it works
From your call to their first day.
The process has the same four steps for every hiring model.
Tell us the role
It starts with one call. We ask about the role, the shift and the pay range, and about what has made the job hard to fill.
We source and check
We start with our own network and then search the wider market. Every candidate is skills-tested and reference-checked before you meet them.
They start
Your new hire starts on our payroll or yours, depending on the model. We handle the paperwork either way.
We stay in it
We follow up on day one, at one week and at one month. Catching a concern early is how we protect the placement.
What it costs
What each model costs.
We publish our rates so you can compare the models before you call.
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Contract to hire, 40 to 60%
You are billed hourly at 40 to 60% over the base pay rate, with no fee to hire. On an $18 pay rate, that comes to about $27.54 an hour.
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Employer of Record, about 25%
This model is for someone you already found. We become the legal employer and carry the taxes, workers comp and unemployment for about 25% over their pay rate.
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Direct hire, 18% or 25%
You pay a one-time placement fee based on first-year salary. It starts at 18% for a retained, exclusive search and 25% for a contingent, non-exclusive search. Both carry a 90 day replacement guarantee.
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FlexDirect, 12% to 25% monthly
FlexDirect is a direct hire that you pay for monthly. The fee runs from 12% of salary over 3 months to 25% over 18 months, with no markup and no conversion fee.
Everything else
Employer questions, answered.
Here are twelve more, in the order employers usually ask them.
What does ETS cost?
It depends on the model. Contract to hire is billed hourly at 40 to 60% over the base pay rate. Employer of Record is about 25% over pay rate. Direct hire is a one-time placement fee from 18% of first-year salary retained, or from 25% contingent. FlexDirect spreads a direct hire fee monthly at 12% to 25% of salary depending on term.
How fast can ETS fill a role?
Industrial and warehouse roles are usually sourced within 24 to 48 hours. Skilled trades take longer. Engineering, professional and executive searches typically run four to ten weeks. We give you a realistic timeline on the first call.
Which hiring model should I use?
Choose contract to hire if you want to work together before you hire. Choose Employer of Record if you already found the person and want us to carry the employment. Choose direct hire if you want them on your payroll from day one, or FlexDirect if you would rather pay that fee monthly.
What is the difference between contract to hire and Employer of Record?
Contract to hire includes the recruiting, so the markup is 40 to 60%. Employer of Record is for a person you found yourself, so there is no recruiting fee and the markup is about 25%. In both cases ETS is the legal employer while they are with us.
Do I pay anything if ETS does not find someone?
On contingent direct hire and on contract to hire, no. You pay nothing unless someone starts. On a retained search, one third of the fee is paid up front to open it.
What happens if a hire is not a good fit?
On contract to hire you end the contract and pay only for the hours worked. There is no fee if you don’t hire. On direct hire, the 90 day free replacement guarantee applies and we run the search again.
Who employs the worker?
ETS does, on contract to hire, Employer of Record and temp assignments. We carry the federal and state taxes, unemployment insurance, workers compensation and paid sick time. On direct hire and FlexDirect the person is your employee from day one.
Does ETS do background checks and drug screens?
Yes. Screening is matched to the role and the site requirements, and we tell you exactly what is included before anyone is sent to you.
Will my company name be public?
No. We never put a client name in a public job posting. Candidates learn who the employer is once they are talking to a recruiter.
What areas does ETS cover?
Our offices cover the North Country from Plattsburgh, the Capital Region from Troy, and all of Vermont from Williston. Our National Search team places in all 50 states.
Does ETS work with small companies?
Yes. There is no minimum volume. A single hire gets the same recruiter and the same process as a twenty-person shift build.
How do I get started with ETS?
Send the role through the request talent form or call (518) 562-4673. A recruiter calls you back the same business day with a bill rate and a realistic timeline.
Question not on the list?
Call (518) 562-4673 and ask a recruiter directly. You will get a clear answer on the first call.