Temporary Employment

The following information provides answers to the most frequently asked questions about finding temporary employment. If you have additional questions, please contact Employment Services at 303-492-6475.

What is Temporary Employment?
State personnel rules provide for temporary employment for work assignments that are non-permanent or seasonal in nature. Temporary positions may be filled without applicants going through an examination process.

How do I find a temporary job at CU-Boulder?
If you are interested in obtaining temporary work on campus, contact one of the temporary agencies currently under contract with the State. For a list of eligible temporary agencies, visit the State of Colorado Web Server page and click on State Purchasing Office. From the State Purchasing website, click on the link for State Price Agreements. From there, click on the link for List of State Price Agreements and scroll down to Temporary Personnel Services. Once you contact the temporary agency, inform them that you are interested in temporary employment at CU-Boulder.

How long can I work as a temporary employee?
Temporary appointments are limited by state law to six months in any 12-month period.

How are temporary employees hired?
Most campus departments contact a temporary employment agency to request a worker. In some cases, a campus department may hire a person directly.

How are temporary employees paid?
Temporary employees hired through a temporary employment agency are paid by the agency. Persons hired directly by a campus department to work on a temporary basis are paid from the university payroll system.

How are temporary employees different from permanent employees?

• Temporary employees do not earn annual (vacation) leave or sick leave. A temporary employee may request time off and it may be granted, but it is not paid leave.
  
  
• Temporary employees are not eligible to apply for campus departmental promotional positions. If temporary employees wish to become permanent employees, they must complete a state application form, participate in an examination, and be referred from an eligible list for a specific job class.
  
  
• If a temporary employee becomes a permanent employee, the time worked as a temporary does not count toward seniority.
  
  
• Temporary employees do not have the right to a hearing if dismissed for unsatisfactory performance. Supervisors have a responsibility to communicate to the employee expectations and standards for satisfactory performance.