How To Utilize a Gig Workforce Effectively

Gig work arrangements are a viable, cost-effective strategy for businesses struggling to find and retain workers, especially those in hourly positions.

When does utilizing a gig workforce make sense?

1. When the work can be done by any qualified worker: For many hourly positions, the work is universal enough that it can be done by anyone with the right qualifications, certifications, or experience. This is the most obvious, successful scenario for gig work. Shifts can be filled by any qualified worker with availability for that shift, without committing to a recurring schedule.

2. For roles with high turnover: The hourly workforce has long been a labor segment associated with significant turnover and low levels of loyalty. Pay is traditionally low, the work can be mundane yet physically demanding and workers will often leave on short notice for higher-paying roles. Utilizing gig workers here can help ensure continuity in production levels.

3. In high-pressure, productivity-dependent environments: In industrial settings like logistics and manufacturing, understaffed facilities pose a direct threat to business. These workers are on the factory floor, in the warehouse, and on the roads, fulfilling product and service needs. Gig work can be a proactive measure to address worker shortages before their impact is felt at the customer level.

4. When there’s an effective way to manage shifts and schedules: Engaging a gig workforce requires an efficient way for both businesses and workers to communicate. The VOAW survey found that the majority (83%) of hourly workers across all verticals are willing to use an app to manage their work, choose their schedule or find a job.

As the world of work continues to evolve, I suspect we’ll see more businesses engage with their workers in non-traditional ways. Gig work is making a name for itself among hourly workers who want flexibility, an opportunity to earn extra money when needed, and gain a wide range of experiences that help them further their careers and earning potential.

With continued economic uncertainty ahead, companies are recognizing that flexibility goes both ways. Gig work helps them keep labor costs down, create more certainty in their production and fulfillment levels and better navigate whatever road lies ahead.

Read more @https://hrtechcube.com/harnessing-the-gig-workforce-for-hourly-positions/