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Why using temporary or flexible workers makes good business sense

If you’re responsible for recruitment in your organisation, it can be easy to fall into a pattern of hiring permanent staff for each vacancy that arises. After all, that’s the traditional model, isn’t it?

Next time, however, stop and think before you draw up that long-term contract. It might be that a temp works out better for business. This month on the blog we’re looking at why you shouldn’t shy away from creating a more flexible workforce – and you may be surprised to find out it’s not all about money.

Increasing your flexibility

As we enter a period of economic uncertainty the key to surviving and even growing, is adaptability, allowing you to take advantage of any opportunities that arise.  A source of temporary workers can allow you to quickly upscale your workforce when demand is high as well as reduce numbers when you hit a quieter patch.

Persistently hiring and firing permanent employees is not only bad for morale and likely to give you a terrible reputation as an employer, but it’s time-consuming and could leave you in hot water legally if you don’t go about it the right way. But hanging on to a large workforce when the orders are drying up doesn’t make good business sense either.

Temporary employees can be brought in for a short period of time to respond to a business need or to take on a specific project. And they can also fill the void left by long-term sickness or maternity leave.

Saving you money

If you only need to bring someone onboard for a short time it can be cheaper to hire a temp than commit to the cost of a permanent employee. You may find you’re paying an hourly rate and there is likely to be a reduced liability on the company to pay for perks and benefits.

However, be warned, if the temp turns into a longer-term assignment it can often be better value for money to take on a permanent member of staff. Make sure you check out the figures before making your decision.

Finding the right person

When you have a vacancy in your business that needs to be filled quickly, it can sometimes be tempting to make a rush decision simply to get someone into the role.

Instead, consider filling the ‘gap’ with a temp. This could give you breathing space and time to make sure you find someone who is the right ‘fit’ for your organisation.

And you never know, you might even find that your ‘temp’ turns out to be the right person after all.

Acquiring new skills for a specific project

If you’ve got a project coming up, but you’re not sure your team possess the skills or expertise to get the job done well, it may be worth bringing in a temp to help cover off the piece of work.

That way you can advertise and select specifically for the skills you need without making a long-term investment. And when the project is done? You can offboard the temp freeing up valuable budget for the next project.

Boosting morale across the business

In times where volumes of work are high and staff are being asked to do overtime or work long hours, morale can quickly decline leaving you with tired, unmotivated staff.

By bringing in a temporary worker or two to ease the load you’ll take the pressure off and show you’re willing to do what it takes to support your staff. Not only will this benefit overworked staff, you should find it will improve the overall atmosphere in your workplace.

Are you considering hiring temporary staff? Let us take the hard work off your hands! By developing a close working relationship with a specialist agency, you can save yourself time and tap into a source of good quality temps as and when you need them.

Contact us email or call 01291 628888 for more info.