Why You Should Consider Working with Contractors or Freelance Help
When a business has work it needs to get done, and no one on the current staff who can reasonably take it on, the first temptation might be to hire a new employee. While this may be the right choice in some situations, it’s not the only option available. Working with contractors, temporary staff, or freelance workers can be a good choice, depending on your circumstances. Here are five positives to working with temporary help.
No Long-Term Commitments
When you hire contract workers, you don’t need to commit to a long-term relationship. This means contract staff can be great for situations where you need work for a shorter time, such as during a growth period or an employee absence.
Contract workers also give you the ability to “try out” an individual or a role before you determine whether you need to hire someone full time.
Potential Lower Compensation
You might pay a contractor or freelance worker a higher hourly rate than a permanent employee, but you’ll also save on paying benefits, vacation time, and other expenses than come with full-time staff. Plus, you’ll only need to pay for the exact work you need or the number of hours that make sense for your organization and no more.
Immediate Expert Skills
Contractors and freelance workers tend to be experts in their field. Your company likely has its own skills and expertise, but it simply isn’t possible for any organization to know everything. During periods of growth and change, it can be incredibly valuable to work with someone who has expert skills in particular areas. For instance, the experienced Chartered Professional Accountants at Ralevic & Ralevic LLP can help your business with accounting, financial advisory, tax work, and much more. Contact us today for more information.
Greater Flexibility
Not only are you able to work with freelance staff on an “as needed” basis, but you may not even need to find them a place to work in the office. Many freelancers and contractors have their own offices where they can conduct their work remotely. Even if they are working from your building, you won’t need to be worried about providing them with equipment (such as computers, cell phones, etc.) since freelancers and contract staff are typically responsible for providing some or all of the tools required to do the job. This means they’ll give your organization financial flexibility and save time and hassle as well.
Unique Points of View
Most contractors and freelance workers have worked with a number of different companies, likely in many different fields and industries. This means that, when you work with them, they’ll bring their unique perspectives and points of view to your organization. This can be a big benefit and help your business stay competitive and innovative in the marketplace.
How to Ensure that Someone is Actually Temporary or Contract Staff
One important point to keep in mind is that there is a difference between independent contractors and company staff and that this line sometimes gets blurred. There are occasions where companies believe they are working with someone on a contract basis, but the work relationship develops into one that is more like an employee/employer situation. In these cases, the specifics between the company and the individual must be looked at. Failing to correctly identify workers as contractors or employees can put a business into tax issues with the Canada Revenue Agency, so it’s important to get things right.
For more information, please read our post on the Difference Between Employees and Independent Contractors.
