The Benefits of Contract Employment

Contract work today is very common; however, many people are still unaware of the countless benefits to this type of employment. Right now, things are uncertain for many businesses across the world. Still, contract employment remains a great option for temporary and flexible staffing needs.

What is Contract Employment? 

For an understanding of contract employment, you need to contrast it with permanent employment. Contracts are typically signed with independent workers and last a defined period of time. After the lapse of the set period, the employer has no further obligations and vice versa. It can be very useful in terms of handling periods of intense work volume that are only expected to last for a short period. It’s also ideal for positions that would be difficult to fill permanently.

Contract vs. Permanent Employment 

The best way to learn the difference between the two most common hiring practices is to compare them directly and identify the strengths and weaknesses of each. Contract staffing is generally viewed as a more flexible approach, suitable for solving workforce shortages or replacing key employees for a short period of time. We typically see contracts last for a few months, but it's not unusual at all for a company to want to extend a contract. It’s less risky for the employer and allows the workers to have variety and switch between employers.

Permanent employees have historically been entitled to unique benefits which were typically not available to short-term hires. However, staffing firms like Progressive offer their contractors a wide range of W2 benefits, including healthcare coverage, paid time off, and 401(k) options. Still, permanent employment is often preferred when there is a need to build a strong team identity or when the handling of sensitive information is involved.

How Does Contract Recruitment Work? 

Contract recruitment involves several different steps. The company must first recognize its own needs and decide the positions for which it wants to hire contract workers. The next step would be to hire a professional recruitment agency like Progressive to help with the hiring process, vetting, and recommending the best candidates.

Benefits of Partnering with a Contract Recruiter 

While employers are free to search for contract workers on their own, working with an experienced recruiter often yields the best results. Progressive has a large database of skilled professionals across the United States that can be tapped into whenever needed, which massively helps in increasing the chances of finding the most qualified candidate. 

For a contract recruitment process to run smoothly, it’s necessary to have the infrastructure and resources to review and sort out a large number of candidates quickly. This is something that corporate HR departments sometimes struggle with, thus the need for a dedicated agency like Progressive.

For job seekers, partnering with a recruiter means receiving 24/7 support in your job search. At Progressive, we strive to keep you working and will provide continued support during and after your contract is completed.

Working with Progressive

We've worked in the engineering recruitment market for over 25 years, covering a wide array of industries including Power and Renewable Energy, Oil and Gas, and Consumer Goods. From the moment we started as a company, we knew it was important to take the time to understand everybody's needs - not just our candidates, but our clients too.

Global mobility: Why limit your search to local candidates when there is a wealth of international options at your disposal? With Progressive Recruitment, your search for the most suitable contractors and employees can be conducted globally, with our experience serving as the guiding principle. 

Time Sensitive: Even if you're working on a short time frame, our experience and network of contractors means we’ll be able to help – whether you’re looking for one person or a team of specialists. All you have to do is tell us the specific requirements of your project. 

Back Office Support: We’ll even assist with the administrative work too. We’ll look after the back office support for contractors, including online time sheets, payroll services, and legal and insurance support. So you’ll get the contractors you need, when you need them, without any hassle.

We understand that right now, everyone’s situation is unique. But if you’re interested in working as a contractor or are in need of hiring a contractor, complete the form below and we’ll be in touch to let you know how we can help.