It’s that time of year - all year
Not just a little holiday help
Personal time off, vacations, year-end projects, and seasonal fluctuations make this time of year an obvious one for calling in “holiday helpers” who can work temporarily. And for some of those workers, the idea of extra Christmas money itself is a motivator for taking on some short-term work. There is much to be said for the value of this kind of flexible work option, for both the business and the employee.
But underlying that flexibility characteristic is a philosophy no longer related just to the holidays. More than ever, we see workplace priorities shifting to:
Employee requests for more personal time off for work/life balance issues
Vacations that have gone unused now becoming a mental health priority again
Changes in technology creating new projects at any moment
A business environment that is constantly and unpredictably changing
It’s now “that time of year” at any given moment!
Who are these elves?
In addition to the changing workplace, temporary help itself has come a long way. Far from answering phones (although that’s still a popular option), 72% of hiring managers report using temporary help in a variety of other positions. In fact, 35% of the temporary workforce is now filling higher-level positions including professional and managerial roles.
Perhaps not too surprisingly then, the face of the temporary workforce is also changing, with 69% of those working in temporary roles being between the ages of 35-55 (considered the prime workforce age). And just why are “prime workers” choosing temporary work these days?
They are new to the area and/or willing to learn a new industry (30%).
They are technically retired, but not done working yet (31%).
They are students at some level, or parents who need options to spend time at home (39%).
All of these facts demonstrate that it’s easier than ever to hire temporary employees who are proactive and hard-working, offering the talent to make a quick and lasting contribution to the team. 77% of hiring managers report that their experience provided them with temporary workers who met the skill level required and were reliable. Temporary work is no longer a “rookie sport” or a fallback position (although there is nothing wrong with either one).
Let’s make it local
We have watched 2024 veer all over the place – from urgency in finding new employees to fill vacant positions, to the rise of temporary orders as businesses faced uncertainty. This cycle has repeated itself all year, with temp-to-hire and temporary-only orders elbowing the other out for priority.
A look at today’s open order list will show the typical seasonal temporary needs, but with a virtually equal number of permanent openings being filled by small business clients who are seeing growth. You might find your own story in one of these scenarios:
Three upcoming year-end retirements with lead time for training two office manager and a receptionist replacement
A maternity leave coverage requiring experienced recruiting and HR talent
A newly created position for a law firm deciding to bring marketing and social media efforts in house
A medical supply company with two openings and no time to do the recruiting
A new software and technology conversion for a major manufacturer where multiple data entry clerks are needed
A small on-line distribution operation needing occasional accounting support on a random schedule
At Personnel Partners, we began using the phrase “Temp Talent” last year when we saw this future beginning. While it might put on a holiday hat in December, temporary work has truly become a standard way of staffing and of life for more businesses and workers than ever before in our 31+ years of business. If this gives you the “holiday” spirit, ask for office Temp Talent now, or sign up to be part of the Temp Talent workforce. You’ll finish this year and start the next one strong!