Are you the head of Human Resources for a company considering hiring gig workers? You might be asking yourself: How is the nature of work changing, or should I shelve the idea until economic times are more certain? With today’s changing landscape of work structure and workforce strategies, there is much to consider before making this decision.
While navigating through uncharted waters in your search to create an effective staffing solution can present challenges, embracing gig work could prove beneficial for organizations searching for high-quality talent. That’s mainly because gig workers can offer agility and flexibility for a company that adapts to changes in the work environment. In this blog post, we will explore why implementing gig opportunities provides numerous advantages to employers now and into the future.
Benefits of Hiring Gig Workers
Gig workers provide businesses with a cost-effective solution to fill positions without committing to long-term contracts. As a result, organizations can take on additional projects without increasing their overhead costs or adding employees to the payroll.
In addition, hiring gig workers offers greater flexibility and allows companies to access specialized talent on an as-needed basis. Companies can temporarily hire highly-skilled professionals for short-term engagements tailored to fit the company’s unique nature of work.
Other benefits include:
- Allows businesses to focus on managing their business
Hiring independent contractors of different career paths allows companies to focus on their core business operations by outsourcing non-essential tasks. This strategy can result in cost savings and improved productivity.
- Speed of delivery
Gig workers also provide flexibility regarding the speed of services required, allowing employers to access a highly-skilled team with specialized skills almost instantly.
- Adaptability
Independent contractors allow organizations to adapt quickly to changing market conditions while providing access to an ever-growing pool of expert talent.
- Flexible work arrangements
Gig workers provide organizations with the flexibility to fill staffing gaps quickly and efficiently. This can include positions ranging from entry-level to expert roles. And as long as the temporary staffers deliver on deadline, they can be hired from all time zones and work whenever they like.
- Remote work
Gig workers can work remotely, allowing organizations to save on infrastructure and office space costs while still accessing skilled talent. Hiring gig workers also mean employers don’t need to pay healthcare benefits or provide job security.
- Short-term employment
Gig worker positions allow employers to access highly-specialized talent quickly and efficiently—and for only the amount of time that the company needs them. For example, why hire full-time tech talent when you only need a single expert in Artificial Intelligence to fix one of your company’s chatbots?
- Work-life balance
Gig work also offers in-house employees a chance to rebalance their professional and personal needs, allowing them to create flexible work arrangements that better suit their lifestyles. Hiring independent contractors also help company bosses avoid the hassle of hiring, training, and managing full-time employees.
What is One Downside of Working in the Gig Economy?
One of the primary downsides of the gig economy hiring process is the lack of legal protections and oversight. How can you be entirely sure that the freelancer you are hiring is qualified for the job?
Ensuring that temporary employees are committed to meeting deadlines and company expectations is critical. This lack of insight can lead to unreliability or poor-quality work if gig workers don’t adhere to agreed-upon timelines or budgets.
Gig work can also make it difficult for companies to ensure compliance with government regulations around background checks and other legal requirements. Depending on the nature of work for the job at hand, employers may need to complete additional paperwork or seek pre-employment background screening from third parties to ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
Background Screening and the Gig Economy
To help mitigate the risks associated with independent contractors, employers are taking a closer look at background checks. Pre-employment background screening was once often viewed as an unnecessary expense, but it is now becoming increasingly important for companies looking to hire freelancers.
Background screening is useful in verifying gig worker credentials, certifications, qualifications, and educational backgrounds to provide peace of mind for the companies hiring them. It also helps prevent potential legal issues regarding negligent work practices by ensuring that all freelancers are thoroughly vetted and comply with applicable laws and regulations.
Is Gig Economy the Future of Work?
You bet! But you still need to protect yourself and your company through proper pre-employment screening. For more information on background checks for the gig economy future, contact KarmaCheck today.
