skip navigation

getting started with developing your employee strategy.

07 November 2018

flexible staffing

Companies worldwide are transforming their staffing practices to meet the evolving challenges of today’s global economy. HR leaders and hiring managers are optimizing talent acquisition using flexible staffing solutions.

In 2020, 76% of human capital leaders used flexible staffing solutions to build a more resilient workforce. Business leaders are discovering that the ideal staffing strategy includes a balance of permanent hires and temporary hires. Working with an HR partner to optimize use of internal resources can help.

It’s time to reimagine your own staffing strategy. Here you can find everything you need to know about flexible staffing and how it can contribute to your company’s success.

This is an image subscript. This can help to explain what is happening on the image itself don't you think?
© Randstad 2021
1

what is flexible staffing?

Flexible staffing is a strategy by which companies employ contingent workers. HR teams and others use a contingent workforce to meet evolving business and operational challenges, and as an alternative to hiring permanent employees. Contingent workers are not on a company’s payroll—they are contractors, independent freelancers, gig workers, and agency-provided workers.

Companies use flexible staffing for a variety of reasons, such as:

“There is only one boss. The customer―and he can fire everybody in the company from the chairman on down, simply by spending his money somewhere else.”

Sam Walton
CEO and founder Walmart

Flexible staffing has contributed to the needs of companies for decades. Today’s economic uncertainty, coupled with a rise in skilled workers seeking alternative employment opportunities, means flexible staffing strategies are more relevant than ever before. Staffing agencies are cultivating contingent talent—freelancers, contractors, “gig workers,” and others—to meet growing demand.

2

why do you need a flexible staffing strategy?

Preparing a flexible staffing strategy now gives your workforce the resiliency it needs to take on the unpredictable challenges of the future—without the time, effort, and costs associated with hiring new employees. Thanks to the gig economy and the availability provided by remote work, there are more capable professionals and a wider variety of talent available than at any point in history. You too can take advantage of this new breed of workers, each with their own unique advantages and personal goals.

10 ways to survive coming back to the office
runtime: 14m 45s
3

the workforce opportunities of flexible staffing

Flexible staffing increases flexibility, optimizes costs, and accelerates the acquisition of much-needed talent when companies respond to changing business requirements and crises. With flexible staffing, companies can recalibrate their own workforce to effectively future-proof their business. The lasting benefits of a flexible staffing strategy include.

  • eliminating the costs of advertising roles and recruiting, hiring, and training new staff
  • gaining fast, affordable access to specialist skills
  • paying only for the talent you need, when you need it
  • increasing your edge over competitors with rigid staffing strategies
  • trialing potential new hires to make sure you choose the right full-time employees
  • transitioning your core staff from tedious day-to-day tasks to value-adding activities
  • building relationships with workers and HR partners without permanent hires
  • substituting unsuccessful workers with successful ones
  • relieving core staff or temporarily replacing them when they must take leave
  • collaborating with an HR partner with experience, relationships, and in-depth market insights
As McKinsey describes, “One of the advantages of temporary and contract workers is that they can provide companies with greater flexibility in uncertain economic times.” As agility and workforce transformation grow in importance, employers are more likely to turn to flexible staffing solutions with these advantages in mind.

  • image-2

    17 May 2021

    Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Cras ultricies velit at facilisis sodales. Nulla consectetur, tellus in malesuada rhoncus, eros lacus lobortis nisl, eu rutrum diam leo in ipsum. Suspendisse porttitor tincidunt diam in rhoncus. Aenean sed elit justo. Aenean malesuada suscipit risus, ac laoreet elit hendrerit sit amet. Nulla condimentum lacus nec ex varius convallis. Aliquam non libero commodo, faucibus purus sit amet, blandit arcu. Aliquam erat volutpat. Pellentesque cursus consectetur quam quis blandit.

    What do integrated talent strategies look like in action? Tim Streeter, global head of Talent Acquisition for Whirlpool, provides insights on the importance of talent experience, diversity recruiting and total talent management in this episode of Talent Trailblazer TV.

  • image-2

    9 April 2021

    integrated MSP case study: speed onboarding with market intelligence and a direct hire strategy.

    The combination of the human touch with cutting-edge HR technologies can accelerate your company’s talent acquisition strategies.

The definitive guide on how to be successful in life from the start until the end.