American Staffing Association
The American Staffing Association is the trade association representing the American staffing industry. It is headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia.
History
The American Staffing Association began in 1966 as the Institute of Temporary Services in Washington, DC. Its mission, then and now, is to advance the interests of the industry through advocacy, research, education, and the promotion of professional practices.A driving motivation behind the association’s creation was to provide the industry with a strong national voice and to educate policy makers at all levels about the benefits of the staffing business.
The association’s first mission was to meet with the U.S. Department of Labor concerning regulations proposed by the former U.S. Employment Service. An important USES mission was to help state employment services provide job-finding assistance to job seekers and employers—functions that sometimes unfairly encroached on private-sector staffing agencies, which did not enjoy the tax-exempt status of their public counterparts.
The association went on to also establish an advocacy role at the state and local level, aided by its network of affiliated chapters, addressing proposed laws and regulations around the country each year.
Soon after its founding, to attract members the association held its first networking and education convention in 1967, followed by industry publications including a magazine and newsletter. In 1985, Congress passed a joint resolution establishing “National Temporary Help Services Week.”. ASA now announces an annual National Staffing Employee Week, which usually takes place in the second week of September.
In 2003, ASA introduced the first of four professional certification programs. In 2016, the association celebrated 50 years of service.
The association’s name has changed over the years to reflect changes in the scope —National Association of Temporary Services, National Association of Temporary and Staffing Services ; American Staffing Association.
Training programs
ASA offers a number of credentialing programs, including:- Certified Staffing Professional ;
- Technical Services Certified ;
- Certified Search Consultant ; and
- Certified Health Care Staffing Professional.
In addition, ASA offers online training programs on anti-harassment, occupational safety and health, workforce management, etc.