Last year, people all over the world lost their jobs due to the pandemic. The resulting global economic disaster has taken its toll and plunged many companies and workers into the pits of despair. Even now while we’re on the mend, businesses are still fairly unstable and uncertain about their future prospects.

What does this mean for you?

If your business is still recovering from the pandemic or it tends to fluctuate for some other reason, it probably means you would benefit from a contingent workforce that you can employ only when there’s need for extra hands. Employing such a workforce can be incredibly beneficial, but it definitely comes with its own set of challenges. 

Today we’re going to discuss what those challenges are and how you can resolve them efficiently. 

Give them clear directives

If you plan to hire someone on a temporary basis, you need to outline every small detail of the job for them. After all, a worker who’s not directly related to your company won’t know anything about your company and they won’t have any idea what kind of standards you have. They won’t know anything about the processes, about the bigger picture you’re trying to accomplish, or the details that are relevant to you. Basically, they’re starting from scratch and they have no authority over anything, so don’t expect them to make big decisions on their own or to know what you need. You have to spell it out for them clearly and concisely. 

Create templates and tutorials

Speaking of clear and concise, if you plan to hire a contingent workforce whenever there’s need, it might be a good idea to outline what kind of job you need them to do in a video or written tutorial and to create templates (if applicable) for the work they’ll do. While this isn’t always possible, it can save you a lot of time in the future because you won’t have to explain everything from scratch whenever someone new comes along. 

Try managed services

Contingent workforces usually work remotely, and they can be hell to manage if you’re inexperienced. This is why hiring a global contractor for workforce solutions can really save you a lot of hassle and ensure everything is running smoothly and efficiently. Freelancers, gig workers, independent contractors, and other types of contingent workers can be difficult to deal with because you have practically no control over them, and you never know whether someone checks out before you hire them. So, use a company to do this for you: they can make sure you’re really getting your money’s worth in a similar way that an HR manager would. Hire someone to deal with all of this for you, and you’ll be able to focus on more important things related to your business. 

Open more communication channels

If you want someone to do a good job for you, you need to keep them apprised of any changes in deadlines, goals, or policies, and this is best done if you keep open communication channels. Programs such as Slack or Skype can be used for this purpose, and you can also use them to give the gig workers feedback on how they did their job or ask them to make changes to the project. The important thing is to treat these people the same way you would your employees – with patience and respect. Be a good client and your contingent workforce will want to do good work for you. 

Invest in long-term relationships

Even if you think these contingent jobs are a one-time deal, it’s not a bad idea to keep steady relationships with freelancers and contractors who’ve worked with you in the past. You never know when you might need their services in the future again, and if you’ve enjoyed working with someone in the past, chances are, you’ll enjoy it again in the future. This could also make future collaboration much easier, as the person will be more aware of exactly what you need and how they can deliver it. 

Make someone from your company is in charge of the contingent workforce

Even if you hire a service to deal with the contingent workforce, you should still task someone from your company with keeping an eye on the whole operation. This is especially important if your contingent workforce is large. You need someone to ensure everything is running smoothly and conduct analysis of the labor output of everyone you hired. 

A contingent workforce will have both its advantages and disadvantages. With a proper strategy in place, you can maximize on the gains and reduce the chances of anything going wrong. We hope our tips will help you do just that.