"Permatemps" are workers that are arbitrarily classified as "temporary" by their employers even though they perform the same regular jobs and work for years side-by-side with other workers who are given the "regular" status of "employees." "Permatemps" are paid lower wages and receive fewer benefits, while performing the same jobs as "regular" employees. "Permatemps" are often paid through staffing firms or "temp" agencies. It is estimated there are now millions of American workers who are "permatemps."
From Bendich, Stobaugh and Strong, P.C.
Microsoft has been involved in a class action lawsuit involving permatemps.
Around the beginning of 2001, Microsoft offered an approximately 95 million dollar settlement of the lawsuit. WOOHOO!