In years past, growing businesses would typically hire new employees to handle their additional workload. Luckily, today’s organizations have many options when it comes to bringing on new workers. You can hire new full-time employees or you can supplement your existing staff with qualified temporary or contract workers.
How do you know which one will be the best choice? Hiring a temporary worker (or contractor) or a new employee is an important business decision. To help guide you to the best possible choice, consider your situation and your strategic goals so that you can evaluate your personnel needs and decide which type of worker is right for you.
Temporary / Contract Employee
There are many benefits to bringing on contingent workers to help augment your full-time workforce. These include:
- Saving money in the recruiting and hiring process, including the cost of making a hiring mistake.
- Reducing the cost of health benefits and taxes as well as workers’ compensation insurance, overtime pay, vacation pay, etc.
- Offering protection against an economic downturn or other market forces that could constrict growth.
- Increasing flexibility (which can also boost profitability) during seasonal upswings in demand or other types of demand fluctuations.
- Accessing specialized resources for discrete projects.
In addition, most contract and temporary staffing firms not only recruit qualified workers but also help companies screen and train these employees.
Direct Hire Employee
Hiring new full-time employees might be the best solution if you are looking for:
- Loyalty and commitment. Full-time employees typically are more loyal than independent contractors or temporary employees. Loyalty can result in higher levels of productivity, but it is not a given. Appropriate programs and procedures – geared to boost the company’s employer brand – must be put into place to make employees feel valued and appreciated.
- Multiple Roles. In smaller companies, employees will often perform a variety of job functions. They become jacks-of-all-trades, so to speak. Having employees who perform a variety of job duties on the fly to meet the immediate needs of the company can be a huge advantage.
- Speedier Work Flow. If your demand remains steady, having a dedicated employee resource can result in quicker and more comprehensive deliverables than if contract / temporary labor is used.
- Clear lines of authority. With employees, both your managerial and legal obligations are clear. With temporary or independent contractors, you must abide by “joint employer” rules and work to avoid employee misclassification issues.
Whatever type of help you need – temporary, contract or direct hire, Wood Personnel will find Middle Tennessee’s best talent – and deliver them to you.
