It’s tempting to think you can work with multiple staffing firms in hopes of preventing workforce shortages. It can seem like the more providers you have working with you, the greater your access to talent, but it can make your job more complicated, instead of easier. You could end up spending more time managing suppliers than getting work done. Here’s why you shouldn’t try to manage several staffing suppliers on your own.
Staffing agencies can be very different from each other.
Working with only one staffing vendor can be challenging enough. It takes time to get to know each other’s workstyles and preferences. But what happens when three, or ten, or even more staffing firms are providing you with temporary employees? They will each have their own processes, systems and procedures. That can mean different bill rates, reporting, payroll schedules – you name it!
Agencies can treat employees differently.
Every staffing firm will have their own process for recruiting, screening and on-boarding candidates. The employees may all be great, but for you to manage them on your own, you’ll have to be sure to think of everything in regard to large numbers of temporary employees. Who do they report to on-site? Who do they report injuries to? When do the get paid? What insurance coverage do they have? Sure, these are questions they are supposed to ask the staffing firm that employs them, but when they are working with people from a variety of firms it can get crazy. Joe might be paid through direct deposit every other Wednesday, while Bob gets pay loaded onto his pay card every Friday. That’s just one example of the confusion that can ensue.
More vendors, more problems.
What happens when you need to add ten or twenty new temporary employees? Do you take turns among the vendors? Request two from each? Try to figure out which firm can most accurately fill the specific requirements for each position?
MSPs bring it all together.
A managed service provider will take full responsibility for managing all your staffing suppliers. As your trusted partner they can:
- Act as your single point of contact between you and all of the staffing suppliers
- Negotiate bill rates and consolidate invoicing and payment
- Streamline hiring processes to fill positions quickly and accurately
- Anticipate need for additional staff and requisition proactively
- Provide consistent onboarding and safety and job training
- Standardize reporting, KPIs and employee assessment
- Manage risks such as compliance and 1099 management
Are you looking for better ways to manage your workforce?
For more information on how Panther’s Workforce Solutions team can help you manage multiple staffing vendors to find the best candidates for your openings, contact our team at The Panther Group.