Do Temporary Workers Give Companies Muscle to Adjust on Demand?

Gone are the days when a worker was employed for life with the same company. Today, the temporary gig has become a mainstay in building an agile workforce. Whether it's a three-month project or yearly seasonal work, temporary employees have carved out an essential role in how companies’ staff up and down.

Every industry has been facing challenges since COVID and the consistent changes of the global political economy. Businesses are at the mercy of it just as much as the people! One thing is for certain: the temporary workforce has become the newest option for adapting to a fluctuating world.

Simon Rossi (General Manager of Uber) utilised the temp force to scale promotions and customer support – a growing role in multiple industries due to increased use of technology instead of in-person support.

“Having access to temporary staff has helped Uber grow rapidly in Australia and New Zealand while keeping our core team lean but well supported.”

Customer service is at the forefront of every business – especially the digital ones! Using temp staff can mitigate the gap between the customer and business, creating a culture of visibility and accountability. These are values people take into greater consideration when choosing which companies to use. So long as it makes their day to day lives easier!

Demand in the retail and fashion industry can be highly seasonal which reflects in sales. Added with the uncertain economic climate, temporary and contract workers provide the flexibility to navigate the waves coming.

“[The use of the temporary workforce is not to] simply cut labour costs but provide a labour-force shock absorber when business goes up or down.” – Labour Economist Susan Houseman

The changing consumer preferences puts pressure on companies and in turn the workforce. To keep businesses alive, they NEED to control their costs. Only then can they hire the people needed so everyone can earn a living. This goes beyond the typical cost-effectiveness of temps (cheaper than permanent employees etc.) but the overall operational costs and culture within the company. The pressures are relieved off permanent staff when flexible staff is added. Therefore, permanent staff are retained for longer. Business operations are the basis of the survival of any corporation.

Temporary employees don’t have to be for a season. Utilising recruitment firms and digital platforms is a great pathway to this ending. They have wide access to talent and can relieve the risks of the hiring process; allowing you to develop other departments or whatever matters more for your business at the time. Additionally, you can bring test and onboard people that represent your values and ideals.

With Black Friday and Christmas around the corner, temporary staff might be the right approach for your business. They may only stay for a season, but temporary workers have become the unsung heroes keeping operations running seamlessly year-round.