For any company, from a new startup to a Fortune 500 company, freelance workers can provide numerous benefits to a company. While there may be a stigma that used to come with using a freelance worker, that is being turned on its head as many companies are turning to them to get work done. Could your company be next?
Resourceful and contract driven
Freelance workers are highly motivated. They are in business for themselves and as such have a need for work to come to them. This means that they typically do very professional work and are very efficient in what they do. They are also extremely resourceful since they have to depend on themselves for almost everything. The freelancer may also have a network of other freelancers that they can turn to for resolving issues which can make their footprint even bigger. The more jobs they can take on in a year means more money to them, so sitting around the water cooler blabbing about their weekend is not in their best interests.
There are financial considerations as well. Freelance workers are only there to complete the job that they have been brought on board to work on. The company does not need to pay for any insurance or benefits which can greatly affect the company’s bottom line while at the same time getting the work completed. This is being taken to the extreme by some companies who are laying off their entire labor force and then rehiring them as freelancers in order to cut costs. While the morality of that can be debated it is happening. For the typical freelancer when the job is completed they move on. There are no unemployment costs for the employer to pay.
Focused on their task at hand, exclusively
Typically when a freelancer is being brought on board they have job-ready skills. They do not need to be trained and gain experience the traditional way. They already have it. Freelancers can quickly adjust to their work environment and when the project is completed they will move on. There is no need to find something else for them to do or to retrain them in some other field. On the flip side it may be possible that an employee needs to be freed from the normal humdrum of the workday so that they can contribute to a project. A freelancer is perfect to slide into that role as it is easy to learn on the job and will save you from conducting a long job search for what may be a temporary position.
Freelance workers are flexible. One of the benefits of being a freelancer is that you can set your own hours and work from home. If a need arises in the off-hours they may be able to respond to an issue much quicker than the normal 9-5 employees would and may be able to address it and fix it before the start of the business day. Since freelancers set their own hours they are not averse to working on the weekends or whenever they find time. That may mean that at 1 AM they are available while the rest of the workforce is home sleeping.
Flexible and ready on demand
Some businesses are local and their customer base is local. Others spread out. Hiring a freelance worker from an area that a business is looking to expand into can be a great idea. Not only will they bring local expertise to the table but they will have the contacts and local know-how to get the venture off the ground much faster than sending an employee there.
Freelance workers are a dedicated bunch and can bring a lot to the table. It may be that hiring one is the right move for your business. If it is don’t wait! They may be so valuable that they get hired permanently.
Resources:
http://www.businessnewsdaily.com/6805-freelance-hiring.html
https://gusto.com/framework/business-basics/how-to-grow-your-business-with-freelancers/
https://www.xero.com/us/resources/small-business-guides/business-management/freelance-economy/
https://freeeup.com/what-is-a-freelancer-and-how-do-they-help-your-company-freeeup/
https://www.business.com/articles/investing-in-the-freelance-economy-how-can-freelancers-help-your-growing-business/