Solve your staff shortage
There are approximately 2.7 million casual employees in Australia or around 20% of the total number of people employed. Why is casual employment so popular? What benefits does it bring to organisations?
Here are five good reasons to hire casual workers.
- Easing the Burden
Sometimes, you may need to replace a valuable team member for a few weeks, if they are on extended leave, for example. And at certain times of year, you might benefit from bringing some extras on board. Perhaps your peak season falls in the weeks running up to Christmas. Or maybe your supply chain is at its busiest from late summer into autumn. At any time of year, casual employees can help you cover roles, achieve your performance targets and boost team morale by lightening the load.
2. Specialist Skill Set
Businesses, especially SMEs, may not always have the mix of skills they need in house. So why not bring them in on a temporary basis? Casual employment may be as simple as taking someone on for a few days to do some data entry. Or you might need a computer software engineer with in-depth knowledge of a specific programming language for 3-4 weeks. In both instances, the employment relationship is temporary and flexible: there is no commitment to offer the employee ongoing work.
3. Assessing Suitability
Casual employment can be a great way to ensure that an employee is the right fit for the role. You only gain so much insight into how a person operates from an interview. Hire them on a temporary basis and you can assess their experience and skills on the job, as well as their cultural fit with the organisation. It’s time and money well spent – far better than making the wrong permanent hire.
4. Cost-effective
Yes, the hourly rate for a casual employee might seem steep, but don’t forget that the loading covers holiday/sick pay as well. If your casual employee is off work for a couple of days, you won’t have to pay them. And if and when you want to terminate their employment, you don’t generally need to provide any notice either.
5. External Perspective
An “outsider” can bring useful insights with them or notice things that longer-term employees take for granted in the organisation. Often it takes a fresh perspective to generate ideas that lead to change, and that perspective may well come from a casual employee.
Casual employment has an important role to play in Australian organisations. It enables employers to operate effectively during peak periods and when there are unexpected staff shortages or a short-term requirement for a specific skill set. It also provides organisations with an opportunity to assess an employee before offering them a permanent contract. And because you hire a casual for the exact duration required, this type of employment doesn’t have to break the bank either.
To discuss your temporary & contract staffing requirements, contact the professional team at Optimal Workforce on admin@optimalworkforce.com.au or 02 8077 7030.
