In the Interim
Hiring Short-Term Workers Yields Long-Term Benefits
by Jennifer Nagy | Published in September 2006 Focus on Production
“It is not unusual for us to get a call at 4 p.m. on a Friday afternoon to handle production for an event taking place the following week,” says Hal Etkin, chief executive of Florida-based event production and destination management company ME Productions. “It would be impossible for us to produce an entire event, including booking entertainment; staffing an airport meet-and-greet; writing program scripts to capture the customer’s message; and design and produce themed décor and lighting in a few days, without a well-developed freelance network.”
With at least 10 events scheduled each week during the busy season, ME Productions knows how crucial good freelancers are to producing innovative events and experiences at the last minute.
As the trend toward corporate downsizing continues, the company has found that freelancers are able to get the work done at a much more affordable rate. The rising cost of supporting full-time employees, diminishing company loyalty and technological advances are all contributing to what may be a permanent shift away from the traditional employment model. Freelance workers represent 7.4 percent of the nation’s total workforce, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, a number that has increased over 20 percent from 2001. This is a growing trend in the U.S. economy, and entrepreneurs need to know how to use it to their advantage.
Finding Your Temp Workforce
During its high season, a company may produce up to 10 or more events weekly, a number that decreases drastically in a company’s off-season. The cost to retain full-time employees year-round can be exorbitant for the employer. Therefore, forward-thinking professional service organizations are increasingly relying on freelance workers to meet unexpected demand, survive seasonal ebbs and flows and even to go after new business.
Employers can find qualified freelance workers though many different channels. ME Productions, for example, has found recruitment firms and online posting sites to be most effective in its search for the perfect freelancer.
Staffing firms such as Staffing Now Inc. (www.staffingnow.com) and Hallmark Personnel (www.hallmarkpersonnel.biz) can help you find many qualified workers with a single phone call — but it’s important to explain your needs and expectations in detail.
“Communication is most important in putting this valuable resource to its best use,” says Etkin. “The staffing firm has to understand your company’s philosophy and business to find the right person for the job, rather than just rounding up workers to fill available positions.” Online Web-posting community Craigslist.org is also a goldmine for companies seeking temporary help. Craigslist offers a posting board (free in its “Gigs” section) for companies and individuals worldwide. More and more employers are using this free tool as a way to connect with skilled freelancers because it is a quick, easy and very cost-effective recruitment tool with over 10 million visitors each month.
Other effective online recruitment tools are Workforce.com and Careerbuilder.com, the latter of which is particularly useful for finding employees interested in long-term temporary or permanent positions.
Avoiding Pitfalls
Once you have the perfect freelancer, have him or her sign a confidentiality agreement to ensure that company information isn’t disclosed. Some companies also ask freelancers to sign non-compete agreements, stipulating that the freelancer will not work with the company’s clients directly or launch a similar product or service within a specified period of time.
Proper training is crucial in getting the best results from your freelance work-force. Be prepared to spend more time and effort managing your freelancers than you would full-time employees, as freelancers may not know how to deal with unexpected problems.
Keep in mind that freelancers do not have a personal interest in your company’s or in your event’s success, so they may require more supervision to remain on track. At ME, every freelancer works closely with a staff member to make every event unforgettable. For example, a full-time employee always supervises ME’s temporary workers when they are staffing an airport meet-and-greet; otherwise, if a flight were to be delayed, freelancers may go home rather than wait for the guests’ flight to arrive.
Consistent communication during a project will ensure you are kept up to date on its status and will help avoid last-minute problems. Once you have found a good group of freelance workers, maintain communication, even during the off-season — this will encourage loyalty to your organization.
Although ME Productions retains over 70 creative and talented employees year-round, freelancers are critical in any event production company’s success. Freelancers bring a fresh perspective to a project because of their diversity of past experiences and offer a flexible workforce when your company needs it most.
About the author: Jennifer Nagy
Jennifer Nagy is a public relations specialist with Florida-based ME Productions. Contact: jennlnagy@gmail.com