Top 4 Reasons to Hire Temporary Employees

The economy is picking up, consumer confidence is on the rise, and sales numbers—in companies large and small—are looking healthy. With such positive signs, hiring managers are faced with an exciting challenge: to hire full-time staffers or to consider temporary (or temp-to-hire) employees.

While hiring full-time (also referred to as “direct-hire”) employees has its own advantages, for some situations hiring temporary help makes financial and strategic sense. In fact, the American Staffing Association reports staffing companies (including leading Houston temporary staffing firm Murray Resources) employ nearly 2.8 million people in the U.S., and that number is increasing. In Q3 2012 alone, more than 2.95 million temporary workers were employed every business day.

Hiring temporary employees is a popular practice for several reasons.

Affords Flexibility

Are you in need of a few extra hands around the holiday season? Or is the summer your busiest season? Temporary employees are an excellent option for employers who typically experience a seasonal spike in demand for their products or services.

Helps Determine Cultural Fit

There are few things more frustrating than hiring a candidate you think will be a rock star, only to realize two months later that they don’t quite ‘fit in’ personality-wise with the rest of your team. Bringing on an employee in a temp or temp-to-hire scenario can be a great way to alleviate future cultural fit issues.

“It’s best to try before you buy,” says Cathy Reilly, author of The Temp Factor: The Complete Guide to Employment for Staffing Services, Clients and Temps. “You can do multiple rounds of interviews and assessments, but until you get the person into your company culture, relating to employees, you aren’t going to know how they do. If you don’t hire for fit, you will definitely fire for fit.”

Companies are increasingly turning to outside help, such as Houston temporary staffing agency Murray Resources, for identifying the right type of candidate ahead of time.

Saves Money

While the pay rate for a temporary employee may be comparable versus that of a permanent employee with the same qualifications, temp employees typically do not require the same benefit commitment as full-time workers. Health insurance, vacation time, and disability allowances can add up.

Fills a Specialized Need

Imagine your company just signed a contract for a new project that will require specialized skills in a technology program where your firm’s relative depth of experience is shallow. While a small set of existing employees have experience in the area, you may have a need to supplement the project with additional hands. Projects such as these can be the perfect opportunity to evaluate temporary talent for potential permanent roles at your company.

Is your company in need of temporary employees?

Founded in 1988, Murray Resources is a leading Houston staffing agency. The company serves a base of over 800 client companies, including numerous Fortune™ 1000 companies and high-growth small and medium-sized organizations, in the areas of administrative, accounting, customer service, engineering, finance, human resources, manufacturing, marketing, operations, and sales.

The company has been named a “Best Places to Work” by the Houston Business Journal and the #1 Fastest Growing Woman Owned Business in the Personnel Category by the Houston Business Journal. For more information, contact Murray Resources at 713.935.0009.