The way it works with temp agencies is the company pays a certain rate per hour for your services--say $20.00. You probably get $12.00 of that because the temp agencies has to pay all the taxes associated with your employment (after all, the temp agency is your employer) and the costs of running the agency. It still sucks that they are really low-balling you like this. I hope you told them no.

The company I work for does the same thing and wonders why they can't retain anybody or get decent new hires. Once they explain this to the floaters they decline. It's lower pay for the same job and now your gas is no longer covered. If you're a floater you get paid more, your gas is covered, and most sites don't ask you to do much cause they know you won't be there long. What's the incentive to take the position? More work, less pay, no gas.

Keep up the good work! Maybe you'll achieve the ultimate honor: volunteer. Imagine the purity of your work ethic compared to wage-****** like me.

More and more cheap labor is born every day. So I would be happy with what you get, because the human population is rising faster and faster into oblivion.

OP, I can sympathize. Had that happen to me once. Finally got hired on after being a temp for 6 months and they cut my pay by $3/hr. I was barely getting by as it was. Had to then get a part-time job to make ends meet.