3 Benefits of Hiring Temporary Workers

Marcianne Kuethen

May 10, 2012

At the beginning of this year, CareerBuilder projected that 36% of companies would hire contract or temporary workers, up from 28% in 2011. So far, their prediction seems to be right on, especially in the field of IT. Why the increase in temporary work? Strategy, said CareerBuilder in a recent report. Corporations are using temporary staffing more strategically as part of their overall HR policies.

Unlike what some people think, temporary workers are not lazy, unproductive, unqualified, or unskilled. In fact, they’re often specialists in their field who prefer contract work because it affords them autonomy and flexibility, as well as continual exposure to new learning experiences. Some also choose contract work because it works around other commitments such as school or other responsibilities. Today’s highly qualified temporary workers have a strong work ethic and take pride in their work. They know that turning out consistent, high-quality work at your company is what will help get them their next contract assignment. Possibly even more than regular full-time employees, they depend on their good reputation to stay employed.

Here are three benefits you will reap, reports staffing and recruiting writer Mary Lorenz, when you hire temporary workers:

1)      Save money. While you appreciate your regular full-time employees, they come bundled with large salaries, benefits packages, and costly insurance. Since temporary workers are paid only for the hours they work, you get exactly what you pay for.

2)      Save time and stress. When you are forced to fill seasonal demands or cover long absences (e.g., maternity leave or military duty), you most likely don’t want to hire a salaried full- or part-time employee with benefits. Temporary workers offer a practical, convenient solution to the problem. And the best part? You can trust your staffing agency partner to bring qualified candidates quickly to your door.

3)      Try before you buy. It can feel a little risky to hire regular full-time candidates before knowing their level of performance. Hiring temporary workers affords you the luxury of getting to “test drive” employees before offering them a regular full-time position. If it turns out the new position is warranted and the employee is a good fit, then you can offer a full-time position with peace of mind. If not, you can cut the employee loose with no strings attached.

CareerBuilder’s most recent Annual Job Forecast reaffirms that recruiting for skilled talent is becoming increasingly competitive due to the “skills gap.” More than 14 million people are unemployed, yet there are 3.2 million job openings in America. How does this affect your bottom line? This year, 62% of employers expect to increase compensation levels for existing staff, and 32% plan to offer higher starting salaries for prospective employees.

While some increases are justified or inevitable, your challenge is to determine how and where you can use temporary workers to keep costs down. Some regular full-time positions are crucial to your company’s health. But with strategic thinking, you may be able to save money and time, alleviate stress, and avoid costly hiring mistakes. Let temporary workers help you navigate the remaining competitive waters of the second half of 2012 and beyond.

By Marcianne Kuethen   ©Amtec 3/22/2012

References:

Lorenz, Mary. “The Short Sell: Communicating the Benefits of Hiring Temporary Workers.”

Lorenz, Mary. “Minding the Gap: New Initiative Takes On Workforce Skills Shortage.”