6 signs you need to bring in staff for temp work
Estimated Read Time: 4 minutes
The New Year can see a surge in workload and output demand in Australia.
In fact, the Robert Half Salary Guide reported that 68% of employers plan to hire contractors for the remainder of the year.
It’s up to you to ensure that your team is equipped and well-staffed enough to deliver and, sometimes, the best way to achieve this is to think about finding temporary staffing solutions.
Although this can be considered a time-consuming and frivolous endeavour, relying on temporary employees to boost your workforce can have some incredible benefits for temp work you may be struggling to complete.
Here are six signs that you need to hire temporary staff, how to find suitable candidates, and reasons temporary staff are usually the best solution to your problem.
1. Lack of suitable permanent candidates for a vacant role
The skills shortage can prevent you from finding the right candidate quickly, leaving a debilitating skills deficit in your team.
If you have a role that you simply can’t do without, it makes good sense to fill the vacancy with a temporary member of staff until the right fit can be found.
Related: How to write a job description
2. Your team workload is too heavy
If the workload is looking too heavy and you have multiple projects due for delivery before the end of the year, a professional looking for temp work can help free up your more valuable permanent employees.
This helps to take the pressure off your top performers, leaving them free to focus on important tasks without feeling overwhelmed.
3. When niche skills are required for temp work
Freelance and temporary professionals tend to possess specialist skills and niche abilities which aren’t commonly found within permanent workforces.
When certain projects require those skills for imminent deadlines, it may make more sense to bring someone in short-term—especially if you know you won’t necessarily require those skills again for future projects.
Related: How to promote a job ad
4. Your team is on annual leave
Your business still needs to be able to deliver quality service, despite team members clocking off for the holidays.
If you’re concerned that too many of your top performers will be on annual leave at the same time, a temporary member of staff can help pick up the slack for temp work and relieve the pressure on remaining staff members, who may otherwise have had to share the workload.
Related: How to effectively review resumes
5. Digital transformation projects need support
It’s not uncommon for businesses to hire temporary skilled professionals to take the reins while they train up existing members of staff to prepare them for the digital transformation of the business.
The Robert Half Salary Guide discovered that employee training and development is one of the top priorities for businesses this year.
Temporary professionals and blended workforces are an excellent way to support this initiative.
Related: Shortlisting the best candidates
6. When you need resource but have limited budget
If you’ve noticed that there’s room in your team for a new professional but you simply don’t have the budget to hire anyone, you might find that a temporary professional provides a cost-effective solution.
Daily rates and flexible hours give you the freedom to fill in the gaps within your monthly schedule, so no funds are wasted with temp work.
An important note to factor is the cost of living in Australia is driving higher salary expectations amongst contractors who need to account for ancillary costs such as transportation or childcare.
Related: Making your final hiring decision
Do you need to hire temporary staff?
Organisations across Australia are implementing flexible staffing models where permanent headcount is maintained for business-critical, day-to-day operations while contract hires offer a cost-effective solution to quickly meeting specific project needs that require niche skills.
Businesses that take a proactive approach to attracting global talent following the re-opening of domestic and international borders will be well positioned to tap into a wider talent pool of business support professionals looking for contract work.
Related: Making the right job offer
Need help finding a reliable, highly skilled temporary professional in Australia? Contact the team at Robert Half and have a list of fully vetted professionals sent to you.
