[Rant/Question] Temporary Recruitment is Taking a Toll on My Mental Health

UK, England

I’ve been working at a temporary recruitment agency for the past year and a half, and I genuinely feel like this job is wreaking havoc on my mental well-being and personal life. To give you some context: I graduated in 2023, and this is my first role in recruitment. Prior to this, I worked in various positions (hospitality, healthcare, administration), and I can confidently say none were as overwhelmingly stressful as this.

At my agency, we primarily source temporary staff for seasonal or short-term roles, mainly in warehouses. Here are some of the aspects that frustrate me:

  • Expectations vs. Reality: Candidates are expected to perform as if they are permanent employees, despite the fact that many will likely never transition to that status. Meanwhile, the agency treats them inconsistently; some days they’re called in, and other days they’re left without work.

  • Picky Warehouse Management: The management at these warehouses is extremely selective about the staff we provide. They often give little time for new hires to adjust and then dismiss them for perceived poor performance. Sometimes they request specific individuals and disregard those who are available.

  • Discrimination: I have encountered racism and sexism in the workplace— I’ve frequently heard comments like “they need a man, not a woman.” While some roles may be physically demanding, the persistent bias is infuriating. As a woman, it angers me to witness such discrimination. Additionally, I’ve noticed that candidates of different ethnic backgrounds often face immediate dismissal after just one shift.

  • Holiday Restrictions: During peak periods, including June, taking more than a single day off is nearly impossible. This means I have to cram all my vacation time into an eight-month window rather than the full year. Approval for time off is also challenging, with only one of us in the office allowed to take leave at a time.

  • Overwhelming Work Hours: My typical hours are from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with a paid hour for lunch. However, due to the workload, most colleagues often skip lunch breaks. There’s no scheduled break time; it’s up to us to manage that ourselves, even when it’s busy.

  • On-Call Duties: We are required to participate in an on-call rota, meaning I must be available to respond to emergency calls day or night. Unfortunately, many warehouse managers and job seekers take advantage of this, calling me at all hours.

  • Lack of Support from Management: The work culture is overwhelmingly intense, with managers brushing off anything negative that comes up. I had to fight for a new laptop that malfunctioned for six months, finally getting a replacement only after someone else left. There are times when I wish my colleagues would keep their opinions to themselves. They act as if work is the top priority in life.

This situation is becoming unbearable. I’m seriously considering whether I should seek out a different recruitment role, as my experience here has been far from ideal.

I’d love to hear from others—does your recruitment experience mirror mine, or am I just exceptionally unlucky?