When building or adding to your team, several questions arise. One of the first, and perhaps the most important, is what type of employment is best suited for the role. There is temporary staffing, which allows for flexibility, fills tight schedules, and offers a low-risk option for growth. On the other hand, hiring for permanent positions gives employers an opportunity for long term investment in your team, operational capabilities, and company culture. So how do you choose between temporary vs. permanent employment when hiring?
The Pros and Cons Between a Temp and Permanent Hire
On the surface, the difference between temporary vs. permanent employment may seem clear, but each type comes with its own set of pros and cons to consider.
The perks of filling roles with temporary hires include:
- Fast
- No long term commitment
- Flexibility to scale up or down quickly
- Lower short term risk
It's not all pros, though; here are some cons to temp staffing:
- Constant training
- Higher hourly rates
- Temps can easily leave for better opportunities
Permanent employees offer benefits such as:
- Higher motivation
- An ongoing commitment to the company and its success
- Builds a team-oriented environment
- Less employee turnover
However, the reasons why employers might not want to fill a position permanently include:
- Must provide benefits
- A longer hiring process
- Risk of having employees without enough work
- Risk of training someone who may not last
With these pros and cons in mind, how do employers decide between hiring temporary or permanent workers?
When Temporary Staffing is the Best Decision
There are many industries and times when temporary staffing meets your needs exactly. Factories, warehouses, and retail businesses are often faced with moments when they need increased staffing but know the demand won't last long enough to sustain permanent hiring. For instance, when large orders come through or you need to rapidly increase manufacturing to meet deadlines. Retail stores also experience seasonal rushes around the holidays or summer season that call for a short term burst in employees. When an employer needs to increase hiring quickly but doesn't require ongoing assistance, the best decision is temporary staffing.
When Permanent Positions are the Right Path
Most companies will need to have a permanent staff that aligns with goals and ongoing expectations. When a role is crucial in your organization, and you see a long term need, opt for permanent staffing. Permanent staff bring stability and deeper investment in company culture over time. They learn your processes, build relationships with clients, and grow into leadership roles. This continuity reduces retraining costs and supports long term planning. When positions require specialized skills or institutional knowledge that takes months to develop, permanent hires protect that investment and strengthen your team's foundation.
The Temp-to-Permanent Employee Option
If you're still torn between temporary vs. permanent employment, there is another way. Many companies will offer a position as temporary with the option to become permanent. This lets them explore potential permanent candidates more in-depth than a hiring process allows without as much fallout should it not work out. With the temp-to-permanent employment option, you'll be able to see how a candidate performs in their actual role, how they fit into the team dynamic, and if they have the potential to grow within the company.
Liberty Staffing Takes the Hard Work Out of Hiring for Employers
In the ongoing decision between temporary vs. permanent employment, Liberty Staffing Services is here to help. Whether you need to fill temp roles fast or want to ensure you hire the best possible candidate, our services connect you with the staffing solutions you need to grow and succeed.
Contact our team to get started.
