Advantages of Temporary Hires

It’s inevitable. As time goes on, your business needs will change. And even though your employees certainly have skills and expertise that are invaluable to your organization, you’ll find that you have gaps in some areas.

If you find that you need a specialist approach to a problem, there are different kinds of temporary employees that you can hire. From contractors, to temps, to freelancers, you can find someone with the right skillset to fill that employment gap.

There are many advantages and benefits that temp cover can provide. Here are some of the key ones.

Fast Hires Make an Immediate Difference

If you have regular employee absences, need to cover for someone on maternity leave, or have seasonal demands, hiring a temporary worker eliminates the need to appoint a permanent resource that isn’t required all year-round. Temps, freelancers, and contractors can typically start almost immediately or with little notice, are cost effective, and can be recruited with a straightforward process.

Fresh Perspectives

Freelancers, temps, and contractors are not as strongly affected by company culture and can therefore enter into a work environment with fresh approaches and ideas. This will allow them to add more value to areas such as problem solving for the work assignment.

Flexibility

Temporary staff offer a great deal of flexibility because you can get a freelancer, temp, or contractor to cover specific periods during business hours, or even after hours if necessary. This might turn out to be a better, more cost-effective option depending on the exact needs of the company.

Project Specialists

Many temps, freelancers, and contractors have special skillsets and are perfect for short-term assignments. For example, interim managers are often sought after to fill the gap within critical management situations. A temp may be brought in to cover maternity leave or an administrative assignment, or at peak periods. Contractors and freelancers bring a level of expertise to a defined project for a designated period of time, as stated in their contract.

A Chance of Hiring Permanently

After a contract ends, you might decide that the person you’ve hired on a temporary basis has added a huge amount of value to your organization. So why not hire them permanently? You’ve already seen how well they work within your team structure. You know that they’re a good fit and they have the critical skills needed for the role. So, you should be in a good place to make an offer.

However, be aware that your offer may be declined. The role of a freelancer, temp, or contractor offers the type of flexibility that a permanent role is unable to. This makes it an attractive proposition for many employees, so keep that in mind.

The Move from Temp to Perm

On the flipside, you may have a career-focused temp that is eager to switch over to a permanent role. In such cases, those who do want permanent work are often willing to work extra hard to prove themselves an asset in the hope that you hire them. You’ll also have the added benefit of seeing them work in close proximity to better inform your employment decision.

Hiring a temp is a great option for many businesses. If a member of staff has departed suddenly, or you simply haven’t had enough time to find a replacement, then hiring a temp can make this transition easier. A freelancer, temp, or contractor can minimize the loss of productivity during a transition stage, provide specialist knowledge and key skills, and allow for better business flexibility.

For more advice or to discuss your hiring needs, please contact your local Michael Page office.