More than three million temporary and contract employees work for America’s staffing companies during an average week. (LaborWorks) Temporary workers are a significant part of America’s workforce and contribute significantly to the economy. In fact, staffing employees work in virtually all occupations in all sectors:
- 36% Industrial
- 24% Office–Clerical and Administrative
- 21% Professional–Managerial
- 11% Engineering, Information Technology, and Scientific
- 8% Health Care
If you’re unsure whether to bring on a temporary employee to your team, there are various benefits to temporary hires that you should know about. One of the main benefits of hiring a temporary worker is being able to get help immediately, whether it’s because you have staff temporarily away or you have an unexpectedly large workload. Temporary staffing is especially beneficial during vacation season when your employees start using their PTO. If this has piqued your interest, we have a range of benefits you should know about when making a decision to hire a temporary employee.
Six Advantages of Hiring Temporary Employees for Your Business
Here’s why bringing on a temporary employee can benefit your team.
1. Staffing flexibility
When working with temporary staff, you benefit from flexibility because you hire individuals based on your business needs. This is especially helpful during a busy season, vacation season, and other instances when you need to hire to cover the extra workload.
2. Reduces costs
Hiring temporary employees for short-term projects often ends up saving time and money in the long run. You save on overhead costs such as payroll taxes and benefits, along with saving on overall recruitment costs. You’ll save time, too, because your staffing firm will handle the search and screening process, and will narrow down the field so you can interview qualified candidates who are the best fit.
3. Extra support for your team
During an especially busy time or if a large portion of your staff is on vacation, temporary hires can save the day. They provide the extra support the company needs and relieve the burden of extra work for your other employees. This can be especially helpful in reducing stress and allowing other employees to focus on their regular tasks.
4. Reduced risks
Because you are hiring a temporary employee, you have time to evaluate the candidate and ensure they do a good job with their projects and tasks. If the temporary employee doesn’t work out, the staffing firm is able to find a replacement quickly and efficiently. When hiring temporary workers, you often go through a staffing firm that will do the evaluation for you and only send you candidates that they feel are a good match. You reduce the risk of going through a long recruitment process that can end up in hiring the wrong match, which costs you time and money.
5. Immediate availability
Short on staff? Increased workload? Temporary employees are a quick addition to your business and are available to start immediately. You don’t have to go through a long process to hire because the staffing agency has candidates already lined up, ready to jump in. You don’t have to experience reduced productivity and increased costs that come with the time and money spent looking for a new employee, especially if it’s for a short amount of time.
6. Maintain a low headcount
When you need to increase employees for a short period of time, temporary workers are the best way to do so. This is because you add workers to help without having to increase your headcount of permanent employees. Additionally, if the temporary employee exceeds expectations, you have the option to bring them on as a permanent employee. Because the employee has already been working at the company for a period of time, they will be well-versed with the company and will be familiar with the business – a major – advantage over hiring someone brand new.
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