Contractors: Why use them?

There's a number of benefits to using the contracting model, and it's important, as a business to understand what those benefits are, including the benefits to your contractors.

Flexibility: From a business perspective, using contractors allows you to flex your headcount up and down as the business needs require. This may be based on winning contracts or internal projects. For the contractor, they have the ability to work as and when they want, ensuring they have time for themselves to achieve other personal goals.

Experience: Companies are often looking for experienced staff and it's often hard to find a permanent employee with enough experience across a range of skillsets or projects. Contractors, by the very nature of their work-style, often have this experience. For a contractor, the big positive is that they build their experience and network quickly, and become an attractive proposition to hiring managers.

Onboarding: One of the biggest costs of hiring permanent staff is the onboarding. The additional administration required through training, setting up payroll etc. With contracting this is all taken care of outside the business meaning the contractor is straight in, working and up to speed with no additional cost to you. For a contractor, they know they can just crack on with their work, they have all their tax/payroll organised elsewhere and don't need to worry about any delays or issues.

Probation Period: A permanent employee will expect a probationary period, with the legal requirements that this entails, processes etc to be followed should an employee not be performing. With a contractor, if they aren't performing it is easier to end the contract and find someone else. For the contractor, this means they know where they stand, and it's all very clear when they start. Talk to us about our 'working interviews' for our contractors.

Pay: Contractors don't expect a pay review. They understand how much they are getting paid and will work the length of that contract on that pay. They aren't getting paid PTO so any time off is taken at their expense and not being covered by the business. For a contractor, the upside to this is that for the term of their contract, they are quite likely earning more than they would do as an employee.

There's many more benefits of going down the contractor route such as Contract to Hire, too many to put in a concise list, but if you'd like to find out more about them drop me an email at [email protected] and I'll happily discuss. Get in touch now.