What is an example of a contingent worker?

Have you heard the term “contingent worker”? What does that mean? Who does it include?

In practical terms, a “contingent worker” would be any worker who is hired just for a specific job or task (a “contingent” piece of work) or time period, and who is paid just for this but does not get any benefits and is not considered to be a regular employee of the organization. Contingent work is any work that is handled in this manner, including contractual work, short projects, etc. Typically contingent workers are either part-time or temporary or both.

Contingent workers include groups like freelancers, consultants, temps, and other independent contractors.

Contingent work has been a part of the labor force for decades, but it’s becoming much more commonplace now. The recent recession prompted many individuals who were previously full-time employees to explore the idea of becoming independent contractors instead of relying solely on one employer for their income. This situation has continued in the years since the recession, and the contingent workforce continues to grow.

Why Have Contingent Workers?

There are many benefits for employers in utilizing contingent workers as part of their workforce. Here are a few:

• It improves agility and enhances the ability to respond quickly to fluctuating demand. Having a proportion of the workforce that is effectively available at a moment’s notice means having the ability to quickly meet changes in demand. Temporary workers are often used in seasonal industries, for example.
• Labor costs and administration can be simplified. This is because a contingent workforce usually is paid on either a contractual or similar basis. This means they’re not typically subject to many employee benefits. It also generally means there is no need for the employer to handle tax withholdings, thus requiring less administration for the employer.
• It can allow employers to access talent they do not have in-house. For example, if an organization needs a technical project to be completed, but does not have enough of this type of work to require a full-time employee,  a freelancer with technical expertise could be contracted to complete the project.
• Time to productivity can be decreased. When hiring contingent workers, employers typically look for someone who already has all of the skills to do the task—no time is spent on training, meaning that the project can go forward quickly.