In our previous article, 5 Really Good Reasons to Consider Temporary Employees, we shared five reasons temporary employees might be a good fit for some workplaces.
But is a hiring a temporary employee the best fit for your company? This time, we’ll look at reasons why a temporary worker might not be the best fit for your business.
1. Training
It’s tough to get new employees trained quickly for certain roles.
According to the article How Long Does It Take To Get Fully Productive?, 75 percent of participants surveyed said it takes between 12 months and two years to get to optimal productivity levels.
Yikes — that’s a long time! Furthermore, by the time a temporary worker is fully trained, you might not need their help anymore. Then, you’ve potentially lost a good deal of income on an employee who isn’t around anymore or whom you don’t need.
2. Workplace culture
Building a strong office culture is tough work. When you bring in a temporary employee, you’re not only investing considerable resources, but you are taking a risk with an employee who may not fit the vibe of the office.
Other employees may see the temp as not truly belonging to the organization, and they resent, ignore, or choose not to interact with the employee.
3. Higher hourly cost
Simply put, when you factor in temp agency fees, it’s more costly per hour to have temporary employees.
These fees are in addition to the higher wages you will likely be paying the temp to begin with. Make sure you are considering the expense factor when you hire a temp; if not, you may find yourself spending more than you intended to on a temporary employee.
4. Not vested (or invested)
Managers and business owners need to consider what level of investment they can truly expect from a temporary employee.
While there are many hardworking, honest temporary workers, be careful in considering how much you actually want to invest in a temp. The employee may see their position at your job as a way to get paid and nothing more.
If you do decide to hire one, be vigilant in making sure the temp is doing the work they’re being paid to do.
Employer takeaways
So, is hiring a temporary employee a bad idea for your business? Honestly, only you can make that decision.
If you do decide to bring on a temp, be thoughtful about the hiring process and thorough in monitoring the employee, so you don’t end up in a situation that costs you more than you expect.