Is Hiring Temporary Factory Workers Worth The Hassle?

There are around 3 million people working through temporary staffing agencies every week in the United States, according to the American Staffing Association. Of these a little over one-third work in the light industrial, or factory, sector. Factories hiring temporary workers will have advantages and disadvantages to the process. Here are 5 pros and 5 cons to hiring temporary workers to fill factory jobs:

5 Pros to Hiring Temporary Factory Workers

Temporary workers reduce labor costs and increase manpower by filling gaps left by permanent workers who take extended leaves, vacations, are ill, or who leave the company suddenly. Also, often light industrial workers work with permanent employees to round out special projects and to do the "grunt work."

• Many factories hiring temporary workers who have an agreed upon quota often get a price break per worker.
• Your temp service will prescreen applicants, test them, and give the orientations particular to your company. This reduces the burden on the factory's human resources department.
• You don't have to pay a benefits package or a salary to a temporary employee.
• There is hiring flexibility with temporary workers. You can "try before you buy." Many factories hire their permanent employees from their pool of temporary talent.
• Efficiency and productivity are often increased when you have a mixture of temporary and permanent workers.

5 Cons to Hiring Temporary Factory Workers

As much as there are advantages to hiring temporary workers through a temp agency, there are some drawbacks that you need to consider before signing that contract:

• Training responsibilities are continual with each new group of hires and with each new skill set.
• Temporary employee absenteeism rates are usually higher than permanent employees, which often leads to higher turnover rates.
• Temporary employees often have me vs. them attitude and find it difficult to feel like they are part of the team.
• Human resources may need to hire an onsite manager through the temporary agency to manage the temporary employees.
• You may pay a fee for hiring a temporary worker even after the contracted number of days is complete.

Hiring temporary employees can help your factory adjust to workplace fluctuations. You hire who you need and then end their assignment when you are finished. Is it worth the hassle? Most factories might agree that it is if you hire through the right agency. So ask the right questions of the temp service before contracting any temporary employees. Remember that you are also the temporary service's customer just as much as the temporary employees that they hire for you.

To learn more information, reach out to temporary job staffing services near you.