Aushilfs

Aushilfen (plural of Aushilfe) are temporary workers hired to provide short-term staffing support in response to peak demand, employee absence, or special projects. They are common in sectors such as retail, hospitality, logistics, and administration, as well as at events and conventions. Aushilfen can be hired directly by a company or contracted through temporary staffing agencies, sometimes referred to as Leiharbeitsfirmen.

Typical duties depend on the sector and may include customer service, shelf replenishment, cash handling, kitchen or back-office support, delivery tasks, or event setup. The terms of employment are usually fixed-term, project-based, or tied to a set number of hours, and may range from a few days to several months.

Legal and contractual framework varies by country. In Germany, temporary agency work is regulated by the Arbeitnehmerüberlassungsgesetz (AÜG); wages and conditions can be governed by sectoral collective agreements, the minimum wage, and direct employment terms. In Austria and Switzerland, similar arrangements exist under national labor law, often with rules on equal pay for agency workers and limits on assignment duration. Aushilfen may work as standard part-time employees, in Minijobs, or under temporary contracts, depending on the employer and local regulation.

Overall, Aushilfen provide flexibility for employers to adapt to demand while offering entry points for job seekers, though they may face lower job security and fewer benefits compared with permanent staff.