The modern way of running a business requires innovative ways to stay ahead of the curve. Threats and trends demand business owners to have quick thinking and adaptability daily. Luckily for them, plenty of various ways exist. The only remaining choice is which one to pick. Your employees make the cogs turn, so hiring temporary workers may seem like a wrong move to make. But we are here to show you the other side of the medal and help you decide which model best fits your company.
1. Short-term commitment, long-term gain
The screening process is brutal, long and detailed when searching for your ideal employee. You want someone for the long run, and that’s perfectly understandable. But when you need an employee to fill a short gap in your company, you don’t need to apply such rigorous testing. Yes, you still have to find an adequate person and not hire someone off the street, but the whole recruiting process can then become streamlined and easier. Each company has high recruiting costs, but opting for temporary employees saves you money from the get-go!
2. From temp to perm
You never know what you might find out there! The job market is always promising, and you should never close your expectations. You may need a temporary employee, but who knows what Lady Luck may throw at you? Temporary employees have a high fluctuation, and you will go thru plenty of them. With each cycle, you get to know new people and experience fresh skills. Maybe some of them will prove invaluable to lose? Or will they make you realise you can turn the temp position into a permanent one? Whatever the result may be, don’t think inside the box! People can positively surprise you, so keep your eyes out for potential talents.
3. Quickly patch up your business potholes!
Time is everything in any business. Your current employees may leave at a whim, or something unexpected can happen! There is no guarantee of what tomorrow will bring, but always plan for the worst and hope for the best. Temporary employees buy you peace of mind! Just knowing that you can hire them lets you operate your business with less stress. Any employee in any business is replaceable, and temporary workers can even be doctors. The existence of locum doctor jobs lets you know that you always have options!
4. Team composition issues
Temporary employees have plenty of positives, but to be fair, we have to mention the downsides. The first obvious one is that the high fluctuation of workers rattles your teamwork composition. When people work together for a long time, they form work relationships and strong teams! Temp workers get thrown in the mix and have to adapt to team mechanics from the start. After a very short period, they are gone, and your team has to adjust to the next person as the cycle continues. Having frequent temporary employees can seriously damage your team’s morale and efficiency in the long run.
5. Legal and safety concerns
High fluctuation of temporary workers brings costs when integrating them into your business operation! Safety procedures and training still need to be upheld, and frequent training and requirements ramp up costs! Each employee, temp or permanent, has to go through the same initiation process and get acquainted with health and safety protocols. It does not matter how long they are staying, which makes hiring permanent members, a more profitable choice. Temporary workers are also prone to work-related injuries and creating initial work-related mistakes.
This is normal for new employees, as they get the hang of the job, but each temporary employee is a new one, so the more you hire, the more costs appear. On the other side, there are also legal obligations. In the same manner, as each temporary worker needs to go through the safety procedures, you also have to follow legal guidelines for them. The letter of the law is ubiquitous for all workers and any legal procedures and obligations you have in your company apply to all who work there.
When you factor in both downsides, you can compare them to save and make an informed decision. Temporary workers have pros and cons, like any business option, and each company can decide what model works best for them. Usually, and from our experience, temporary workers are great for filling in the sudden gap and working as potential permanent workers. Utilising all the tools at your disposal will make for the best outcome!
Employment background checks are essential for small businesses to ensure they hire trustworthy and qualified candidates. These checks typically verify a candidate’s work history, education, criminal record, and sometimes credit history, helping small business owners mitigate risks and make informed hiring decisions. By conducting background checks, small businesses can protect their company’s reputation, enhance workplace safety, and avoid potential legal issues.
Photo by Andrea Piacquadio
