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The advantages of temporary employees
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22 May 2015
Many temps are skilled workers who have left permanent employment in search of a more flexible career. There are different types of temps, ranging from contract and freelance to interim, so whatever your needs are, chances are, there’s someone out there who’ll be right for your company.
If you already have the skills and expertise that are needed in-house from your permanent employees but have recognised the need for an occasional specific skillset, you might consider bringing someone in on a temporary basis.
Some of the main advantages of temporary employees are:
They are fast hires and make an immediate difference
If you have regular employee absences, need to cover maternity leave, or have seasonal demands, hiring temp staff eliminates the need to appoint a permanent resource that isn’t required year-round.
They bring fresh perspectives
Do you promote people because of their leadership skills or to reward years of service and experience? Whatever your reasons, candidates will get an idea of what attributes you reward.
They can be extremely skilled in their position
This makes them extremely good for special projects and many temporary professionals are experts in their industry, so should be adaptable.
They can fill a position while you’re looking for a permanent employee
If a member of staff has departed suddenly, or you simply haven’t had enough time to find a replacement, hiring a temp can make this transition easier, and there’ll be no loss of productivity.
You have the option of hiring them permanently when their contract runs out
You might decide that the person you’ve hired on a temporary basis adds value to your organisation and hire them permanently. You’ll already have seen how well they work in your team so you should be confident to make them an offer. Remember though, some people choose to be temps for a reason and they may turn your offer down.
The opportunity to move from temp to perm can be a motivator
For those that do want permanent work, they will be very willing to work hard and prove themselves an asset, in the hope that you hire them.
Hiring temps isn’t the best solution for every business, but for many it’s a great way of boosting productivity.
If you think it will work for your business, please contact your local Michael Page office to see how we can help and then check out how to get the most out of your temp for further reading.
Summary:
Temporary employees can fill a temporary skill or manpower deficit in your organisation with less liability than a permanent employee. Additional benefits of temps include:
- A fast hiring process allowing them to fill critical roles quickly
- The new skills and perspectives they bring in to the organisation
- The potential to move them into a permanent role after the contract ends if a continuing need for the position is identified
