Temporary staff are human capital employed to fill a position for a short period of time. Although they might not be immediately apparent to all employers, using temporary staff provides several advantages. This article therefore covers a few of these benefits.
Saving cost
Since they are not included on the payroll, temporary workers have no impact on a company's headcount costs. This is a fantastic option for employers who need to increase their workforce but are unable to hire permanent employees due to a variety of factors, such as corporate policies. Additionally, hiring temporary workers could allow the business to keep money that would have been spent on paying for extra benefits like health insurance, pensions, and sick leave.
Scaling up the workforce on short notice
Businesses are sometimes faced with an urgent need to increase their workforce. For instance, businesses in the hospitality industry have recurring peak seasons like Christmas, Valentine’s Day, and the Easter holidays. There might be a need for an expansion in the workforce, but likely for those peak seasons alone. A business might have the need for more workers than they have on hand for a one-time job. When such situations arise, using temporary staff is a perfect solution. Hiring temporary staff helps businesses scale on short notice without making any major changes to the company’s employee structure.
Time-saving
Permanent staff save businesses time since they can be contracted to begin work as soon as possible, skipping long waiting periods and sometimes even the time spent conducting interviews.
Offloading pressure on employers to hire quickly
Certain talents are rare to find in the job market. Employers may need some rare talents, yet they may be getting applicants with less than the required skills or qualifications. In order for business to continue until a suitable talent is found, the option of hiring temporarily could be resorted to.
Employers get the time to study staff performance before offering them permanent positions
Under normal circumstances, employees present their best behaviour during interviews and at the early stages of starting a job. After gaining employment, attitudes toward work might change. There are people who tend to get comfortable in their positions and not bring their best, especially in cases where permanent employment has been granted. With the hiring of temporary staff, the hired staff are aware of the possibility of being granted permanent employment when they prove to be valuable to the company. This also gives employers the chance to access their temporary staff and offer permanent positions to their deserving employees.
Could serve as an opportunity for businesses to gain fresh perspectives from other businesses
Temporary staff, especially those with special skill sets, like interim managers and independent contractors, can bring fresh perspectives onboard for the short periods they work with a business. These kinds of temporary staff are likely to possess business knowledge from their work experience with other businesses. The best part is that, even after their work contract ends, the reforms and strategies they might have brought to the team remain.
A great option in territories where staff probationary periods are illegal
Although probationary periods for new hires are the norm in almost every country in the world, countries like Belgium and Chile have it against their labor laws to hire any worker and put them under a probationary period. In these countries, employers still have the option of hiring temporarily in order to not be at a total loss when an employee does not perform satisfactorily.
Employers get flexibility in working with agencies
There are instances where staff are given permanent positions but later feel the need to leave the workplace. When employers hire permanent staff through recruitment agencies, per such contracts, the employer needs to hire a replacement for the staff through the same agency. This might not be conducive for the employer since there might be a better fit, not from said agency.
With the hiring of temporary staff, this rule does not apply. In case the staff needs to leave, the employer is not bound to hire a replacement through the same agency. Moreover, temporary staff are unlikely to quit their roles before the agreed period of work comes to an end.
To fill in the gaps caused by absences
Absences caused by situations like staff going on maternity leave might leave a gap to be filled urgently. Hiring temporary staff allows employers to fill such gaps without having to create a permanent role for a staff that will not be needed all year round.
Employers should hire for various purposes and in different ways. Temporary employees can be useful in some situations and less so in others. The advantages of hiring temporary staff that are highlighted in this article offer useful guidance on when to consider doing so and the benefits of doing so.
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