App-lying Modern Technology To Temp Staff Recruitment

In a time of uncertainty, more and more businesses are choosing to hire temporary staff to complete projects rather than commit to the expense and legal obligations of taking on permanent employees. These days, temps are hired for a wide range of work – from full IT projects to filling in for employees who are on holiday or maternity leave. Why, then, with this new demand for temp staff, are we still relying on old fashioned methods of getting hold of them?

Leave a message at the tone

For the most part, hiring of temp staff is still conducted through agencies in a long winded process whereby a business contacts the agency who then contacts the temp by telephone. Often, a business will start trying to get in touch with an agency at the crack of dawn – but won’t receive a temp until lunchtime or, even the following day. With a world of technology at our fingertips, surely there’s a better way?

Driving new ways of working

One way of streamlining the process of hiring a temp could be through an app similar to the one used by taxi giant, Uber. With 75 million accounts worldwide, Uber’s process is simple but effective – customers open an account with their payment details and download an app to their phones. They then use the app to quickly and easily request a ride from a nearby Uber driver. In 2019, surely the same principle could be applied to hiring temporary staff. Although it would involve a technology upgrade for agencies, this would, without a doubt streamline the process for employers, agency staff and temps.

How would it work?

For the employer

As with Uber, the employer would need to open an account with the agency and would then have access to an app through which they would enter their requirements for the job at hand. The app would then identify temps on the agency’s books who meet these requirements and, the employer would be presented with a list of available temps and their hourly rates. The employer would then choose the most appropriate person and make a booking through the app. The app would also allow the employer to message the temp directly.

For the temp

After signing up with an agency, the temp would download an app similar to that of an Uber driver. The temp would then be responsible for keeping the app updated with details of their availability – for example, their account could show ‘Available now’ or ‘Not Available Until 23rd of October’. The temp would then be able to receive bookings directly from employers, cutting out the ‘middle man’. This would mean that a temp could, in effect, receive a booking at 7am and be at the employer’s office by 9am.

For the agency

Temp agencies would, without a doubt, benefit hugely from this new way of working. They would still ensure safety standards by vetting each employer who opens an account as well as interviewing temps. They would also still receive a commission in the same way that they do now. The big difference would be in the huge amount of time saved – meaning more money earned.

As technology continues to dominate industry, it simply makes sense for temp agencies to harness this technology in order to provide a simpler, more effective service to their clients.