Insights from Engagedly’s State of AI in HRM, 2nd Edition Survey.
As the commercial realm becomes increasingly competitive, organizations are looking for more creative, low-cost ways to boost efficiency. One such method is hiring independent contractors to complete particular jobs necessary to achieve certain objectives.
It is implied that contingent workers are only brought in to work when a project is underway because they are recruited based on each project. Unless there’s another endeavor that needs their assistance, a business manager is not compelled to give them constant work.
The contingent labor industry generated $171.5 billion in revenue in 2021 and is projected to grow to $465.2 billion by 2031. This highlights the increasing reliance on contingent workers and the growing recognition of their benefits.
Read on to learn more about their manifold benefits and key points to consider when hiring contingent workers.
Many companies would rather hire temporary workers in addition to their permanent staff.
The principal advantages of employing contingent workers to complete some of your tasks are listed below:
You can cut administrative costs by hiring a contingent workforce instead of full-time or part-time employees. For example, contingent workers don’t need the HR department’s assistance or extensive onboarding procedures.
Additionally, you won’t have to pay for their training, give them workplace supplies, or offer them employee perks like paid time off, medical coverage, and salaried sick days.
Contingent workers, hired on an ongoing basis, offer your employees specialized skills in instances of shortcomings. They constitute a pool of talent that you can tap into in the event of an unexpected spike in work or a brand-new, critical undertaking.
Precisely, by working with contingent workers, you won’t have to pay an employee a wage who isn’t constantly involved in the business you run.
Hiring frequently is difficult for a company looking to fix a minor issue. To be effective in the long run, your organization needs to add abilities and expertise. Although it seems straightforward, this requires a lot of time and work.
After conducting a thorough talent hunt and conducting several interviews, you must then undergo a long process of onboarding your new employee.
However, if you decide to hire a contingent worker, the amount of paperwork is significantly lower. Freelancers and vendors with expertise are frequently available on short notice. You can locate them and work out a specific assignment at a stipulated time. This takes less time than hiring the ideal long-term worker.
Employers can obtain extensively skilled workers from a larger pool of contingent labor. These professionals usually possess a highly specialized knowledge base that is unavailable internally.
Additionally, hiring contingent workers transcends geographical barriers due to the flexibility of workspace; freelancers on Upwork can be hired from any part of the globe for a particular task they are best at.
Businesses can hire temporary employees with the goal of full-time employment thanks to the contingent workforce. Through this procedure, your organization can verify whether a particular position constitutes an element of your long-term goals or whether a particular candidate fits into your corporate culture.
Your company can evaluate a contractor’s suitability before hiring them on an interim basis to decide whether or not to make them a permanent hire in the future.
Follow the tips mentioned below to ensure a successful and efficient hiring process for contingent workers:
Hiring contingent workers requires you to maintain clear project goals and expectations to ensure proper alignment, productivity, and effective outcomes.
Establish distinct and consistent channels of communication in both directions to ensure there are accessible channels of communication for queries, revisions, and input from contingent workers.
Use messaging services, project management tools, or frequent team conferences to keep everyone updated. Contingent employees require a readily available mode of communication in case they have any questions.
Use trustworthy staffing companies or freelance platforms that specialize in integrating companies with qualified workers. Frequently, these platforms feature a pool of pre-screened applicants with a range of specialties.
Seek applicants who meet the requirements and have a track record of accomplishment in comparable positions. To make sure there is a good fit, conduct in-depth interviews, go through portfolios or work samples, and verify references.
You should also think about performing tests or skill assessments to determine the candidate’s competence in pertinent fields.
Labeling independent contractors as employees may have detrimental effects. It may lead to costly fines, unpaid wages, and legal action.
Protracted legal disputes could negatively affect the business’s viability and reputation. Thus, to prevent these problems, exercise caution when classifying temporary employees.
To minimize possible issues, it’s critical to comprehend labor laws regarding the distinction between an employee and an independent contractor. Use contingent contracts that explicitly state the terms of involvement and the extent of the work.
Integrating contingent workers into your team requires a thoughtful approach to onboarding, training, and fostering a sense of inclusion and collaboration.
Here are some strategies to achieve this:
Unquestionably, a contingent workforce has become an adaptable and affordable substitute for conventional resources.
In addition to providing support for innovative concepts and helping you meet skill requirements at the lowest feasible expense, contingent workers can aid your permanent employees.
Businesses can take advantage of talent management strategies, connect contingent workers into key groups with comfort, and use the newest technologies for communication with Engagedly.
With advanced talent management solutions, we ensure you get the most out of your contingent workforce, enhancing productivity and fostering growth in your organization.
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Organizations need a contingent workforce to achieve flexibility, scalability, and specialized skills. It gives companies access to a varied talent pool, enables them to quickly adjust to shifting demands, and lowers the expense of hiring full-time staff.
Contingent contracts enable businesses to lower training costs, scale their workforce following project requirements, and quickly adjust to changing market circumstances without requiring permanent employment.
Hiring contingent workers offers companies the flexibility to adjust staffing levels as needed for projects, minimizing overhead costs associated with full-time employees.
These workers bring specialized skills and fresh perspectives to projects, enhancing innovation and problem-solving capabilities. They also help fill temporary staffing gaps and meet short-term deadlines efficiently, contributing to overall project success and organizational agility.
Srikant Chellappa is the Co-Founder and CEO at Engagedly and is a passionate entrepreneur and people leader. He is an author, producer/director of 6 feature films, a music album with his band Manchester Underground, and is the host of The People Strategy Leaders Podcast. He is currently working on his next book, Ikigai at the Workplace, which is slated for release in the fall of 2024.
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