6 Signs Your Business Needs Temp Workers
Today’s workforce is changing. Permanent, full-time nine-to-five employment is becoming a thing of the past. In its place, temporary and contract work is becoming ever-more popular with employers and employees alike.
If you haven’t yet hired temporary workers at your company, there are many reasons to start contacting an employment agency. Not sure if it’s the right move for your business? Here are some signs indicating it is.
1. You Work in an Industry with Ebbs and Flows
Though many industries get steady demand all year long, others face ebbs and flows, such as seasonal industries like agriculture and tourism that may not be open all year long. Others see a spike in demand at certain times of the year, such as retail stores during the holidays. It can be difficult to staff your business optimally when you face ebbs and flows.
One month, you may be many extra workers to keep up with demand, and the next, you may have nothing for them to do. In this case, hiring temporary workers makes a lot of sense. You can use them when business is booming, and they can move on to other assignments when business begins to slow down.
2. You’re Trying Something New
Perhaps you’re planning to manufacture a new product, but you’re not sure it will be a success. Maybe you’re looking to open a new department, but you’re just testing it out right now. There can be risks associated with hiring multiple new permanent employees for projects that may not work out in the end. You may need to lay them all off in a few short months. Instead, hire temporary workers until you know whether the project is a success or not.
3. You Have Additional Projects on Your Plate
Whether a new project has come up that requires specialized skills that you don’t have in-house or you simply need someone to reorganize your files and you don’t want to take away in-house resources to do so, hiring temporary workers is a great option in these cases. They can stay on as long as the project requires, and once it’s complete, they can move on.
4. You’re Looking to Go Lean
In today’s competitive market, many businesses survive on razor-sharp margins. They can’t afford any waste. Going lean can help you reduce waste and increase your profits, and temporary employees can help you do so. With temporary workers, you can ensure you’re always optimally staffed, whether that means having more hands on deck or fewer. You’ll never pay more in payroll costs than you need to.
5. You Have Many Absences to Cover
In the summer and during the holidays in particular, you may see an uptick in employees taking time off to enjoy time with their friends and family. You may also face longer absences when employees go on sick leave, maternity leave, and even long-term disability. Instead of piling the additional work on your existing workforce, you can hire temporary employees to take over while the employee is out.
Once the employee returns, the temporary worker leaves. Productivity will remain high, your employees won’t feel overworked or burned out, and you won’t have to pay more in overtime costs.
6. You Want to Reduce Your Risks of Hiring
Every business will make hiring mistakes, but if it’s happening too often, the high turnover costs can start to eat into your profits. Productivity and morale can also suffer. With temporary workers, you can test out new employees and see their skills and abilities in action.
If they’re the right fit, you can then offer them a permanent position if they’re interested in staying on. This can ensure you hire the right people and help you reduce your turnover and the associated costs.