When a business urgently needs workers, it’s easy to search “temp agencies near me” and go with the first result. But is that the best option?
Two staffing strategies that are commonly used to find temp labor. The first strategy is traditional temp agencies, the second strategy is online staffing platforms. Businesses should be confident in choosing the best way to find temp employees.
In this article we compare temp agencies and online staffing platforms in cost, speed, flexibility, and reliability. As well as, answer some important questions like how much does a temp agency charge per hour and what makes finding temp staff for my business so important.
Before we get too into it, let's take a step back and look at how temp work works. When working with a traditional temp agency, the business and the agency will sign a contract. This contract dictates what the workers will be paid, when they will come to work, how long they will work, and how many workers a business will receive.
Traditional Temp Agencies: Familiar, But Are They Still Effective?
Of the two types of staffing services, temp agencies have been the go-to for decades, but many are now struggling to keep up with today’s fast-paced staffing demands. Traditional temp agencies often offer in-person support, industry knowledge, and access to a pool of pre-vetted workers.
Cost
Traditional temp agencies are not always the most cost effective. How much does a temp agency charge per hour? With traditional agencies the price depends on the agency, the type of work, industry and how many workers are needed.
The markup for temp agencies can be between 25-100% on top of the worker wages. With temp agencies businesses should also expect a few hidden fees to be added on top of the standard markup fee. The wages of the workers is also dictated by the temp agency, so businesses don’t have the ability to create a staffing solution tailored to their financial strategies.
This gray area creates a problem for businesses looking for a transparent and cost effective staffing partner.
Speed
Temp agencies have limited speed. Most traditional temp agencies still rely heavily on manually sourcing workers. Though this process has been historically used it limits the speed in which businesses can receive the help they need. When workers are found manually it can take weeks for the labor agency near me to rally the numbers businesses need.
Flexibility
Because temp agencies near me are limited in speed they are also limited in flexibility. Without the speed to source temp labor quickly businesses can’t have the flexibility to match their staff to their needs.
The contracts temp agencies require also limit flexibility. The contract dictates how many workers and when they come to work.
This makes it nearly impossible for businesses to staff according to their unique needs. If demand goes up or down, temp staffing through temp agencies doesn't have the flexibility to flex up or down with it.
Reliability
One thing temp agencies are infamous for are no shows. A no show is when a temp worker who is supposed to show up for work doesn't. Temp agencies have not yet found a solution to preventing no shows and giving businesses reliable workers.
If a business does not like a worker from a temp agency they can send them away, but there is no guarantee that they won’t get that same worker again. Or that the workers they are getting were sent away from another business. There is no way to measure or choose workers by reliability with a traditional temp agency.
Online Staffing Platforms: Fast, Flexible, and Data-Driven
Digital staffing apps have transformed how companies find local workers. By offering on-demand access to temp labor with built-in rating systems and shift management tools built specifically for flexible staffing.
Online staffing platforms, or also known as staffing apps, are a modern solution to temp agencies. With a staffing platform businesses post the shifts they need filled to the platform. Workers review the shift posting and apply to work if they are interested.
Businesses then can choose which workers they want to work their shifts. After a shift is worked businesses have a chance to rate and review each worker. Staffing apps make it easy to find temp employees.
Cost
Staffing apps let businesses choose the wages for their shifts. This allows for businesses to truly have the most cost effective general labor staffing strategy. Because workers choose the shifts they apply for, businesses can raise or lower their shift wages based on demand, difficulty of the job and other factors.
Speed
Online staffing platforms are the best way to find local workers quickly. Once a shift is posted to the platform thousands of local temp workers are notified through the app. Workers review the shift and apply to the shifts they are interested in. Shifts on the staffing app Bacon fill in as little as 48 hours.
To further increase speed Bacon has a template feature, where businesses can create a template of shifts that will be recurring. So when posting shifts information like location and requirements don’t need to be updated every time.
Flexibility
Staffing apps are a powerful tool for businesses looking for flexible staffing. Staffing apps allow for businesses to ramp staffing up or down with real time demand. This creates a powerful tool for businesses in every industry.
For warehouse temp staffing this flexibility is perfect for staffing when unexpected demands hit. It is also great for staffing during the busy season without having to worry about over staffing once demand drops.
For events and catering this flexibility allows them to build benches of trusted workers without having to worry about paying workers full time. When projects or events are running they can bring in staff and when events end they simply don’t post anymore shifts.
Reliability
Online staffing apps have developed features to solve the no show problem. Staffing app Bacon has three key features that allow for Bacon to have a 94% fill rate nationwide.
The first feature is worker choice. Temp workers near me choose which shifts they apply for and know they are responsible for showing up. Unlike temp agencies who just send workers to shifts, Bacon Workers choose the shifts that work with their schedules and that interest them.
The second is the Bacon Score, which is a number score that represents a worker's reliability. The score takes into account multiple factors including client ratings and reviews. If a worker does not show up for a shift their score is significantly impacted and it will be harder for them to be accepted to future shifts. If a worker no shows too many times they are banned from the platform.
The last feature is the Backup Worker feature. This is where Bacon sends backups to business shifts. This helps cover when there are no shows. These workers know they are being sent as backup workers.
If the business needs them they accept them and they are paid like any other worker. If they are sent away Bacon compensates them for their time.
Conclusion
While temp agencies near you offer familiarity, online staffing platforms deliver the cost, speed, flexibility, and reliability that businesses need to be successful. Try Bacon as a find local workers app and source temporary labor near me.
