---
type: Guide
title: "Temporary staffing and recruitment: which model fits?"
description: "Temporary staffing and recruitment differ in their employment relationships. Direct recruitment concerns employment with the hiring company. Temporary agency work involves employees of an agency working at another company."
resource: https://eastpowergmbh.de/en/ratgeber/zeitarbeit-personalvermittlung/
status: draft
generated: { by: codex/editorial-build, at: "2026-10-14T12:00:00+02:00" }
sources:
  - resource: ../references/legacy-source.md
    title: Supplied legacy German website
  - resource: ../references/owner-identity.md
    title: Owner-declared entity identity
---

# Temporary staffing and recruitment: which model fits?

Temporary staffing and recruitment differ in their employment relationships. Direct recruitment concerns employment with the hiring company. Temporary agency work involves employees of an agency working at another company.

## What does temporary agency work mean?

The Federal Employment Agency also calls temporary agency work Zeitarbeit or Leiharbeit. Employees work for a period at another company; their existing employer becomes the agency and the receiving company the client. Authorisation is generally required, subject to case-specific exceptions. Clarify the actual model and documentation before commissioning.

## What is the focus of direct recruitment?

For direct employment, describe the position in your company: tasks, workplace, qualifications, contract scope and selection. The hiring company decides on employment. Recruitment services and fees are agreed separately. Contacting a staffing agency does not by itself determine whether direct recruitment or temporary staffing is intended.

## Questions that help choose a model

Is the aim to fill a position directly and permanently, or to cover an assignment, extra shifts or peak demand? Describe the objective first. Then discuss contractual relationships, selection and preparation. Origin from Poland or another Eastern European country is additional context, not a separate employment model.

## Why synonyms are not new services

Temporary staffing terms should be explained in relation to each other. People using them may still ask different questions about costs, tasks, documents or the process. Specific explanations help; three nearly identical service pages would not clarify the underlying model.

## Employment contracts and assignment duration are separate

In agency work, the employment relationship is with the agency while the assignment is at the client. Assignment duration does not automatically equal the term of the employment contract. Agency work therefore does not always imply a fixed-term employment contract. Direct recruitment leads to employment with the hiring company; the recruitment fee concerns a separate agreed service.

- [Bundesagentur für Arbeit — Arbeitnehmerüberlassung](https://www.arbeitsagentur.de/unternehmen/personalfragen/pflichten-arbeitgeber/arbeitnehmerueberlassung)
- [AÜG § 1 — Arbeitsverhältnis und Überlassung](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/a_g/__1.html)
## Compare models

| Aspect | Zeitarbeit | Personalvermittlung |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Purpose | Discuss time-limited staffing needs | Direct hiring by the company |
| Preparation | Tasks, assignment period, shifts and responsibilities | Role requirements, selection and employment conditions |
## Related concepts

- [Temporary staffing for your business](leistungen--zeitarbeit.md)
- [Recruitment and direct hiring](leistungen--personalvermittlung.md)
- [What does staffing from Poland and Eastern Europe cost?](ratgeber--personalkosten.md)
- [Your staffing enquiry](personal-anfragen.md)
- [Temporary agency work](ratgeber--arbeitnehmerueberlassung-aueg.md)