There are a lot of assumptions about travel staffing—it’s too expensive, it won’t be a good experience, or just that no workers are interested. However, those things are fundamentally misunderstandings about the model itself. In this episode, Tim and Brett discuss these myths about the travel staffing model and what the reality is for companies and workers considering it.
Anytime you outsource, it comes with a cost
Costs are always one of the first objections to any product or service, especially in this economy. But the fact of the matter is, any time you outsource, there’s a cost involved.
However, there should always be a return that comes with that cost that is valuable to you. The same goes for staffing. There’s a cost to getting your labor needs met, no matter what model you choose to accomplish that. It’s important to ask yourself why you are spending the money, and if the return justifies the cost.
There are multiple options for staffing and they ALL have a cost
The most commonly used model for staffing is internal recruiting. In the last 10 years, many HR departments have expanded into recruiting talent. The downside for this is that that investment becomes a fixed cost that doesn’t change regardless of whether you’re actually hiring or not. Many companies expect to increase their HR spend but see little to no returns on that increased overhead cost.
Another model is a temp agency, which are generally the least expensive upfront. They can do great work for general labor positions. That being said, they generally aren’t suited to recruit for any highly specialized positions. The low upfront cost quickly becomes very expensive if they can’t get you the qualified workers you need.
Closely related to temp agencies is the headhunter model. This model was designed more for executive level positions rather than the trades. Since it’s suited for one-off positions and not rapid turnover/high numbers, there’s a large upfront cost with no guarantee on the back end.
Finally, you can utilize the travel staffing model. There are more costs involved on the surface, but it’s important to look at what you’re getting out of it for the money invested. The travel model can be tailored specifically to your needs and find the right, qualified hires from across the country. The ROI is very high compared to the other models for the skilled trades.
All of these models have their place for specific problems. You can mitigate your costs by making sure you’re choosing the right approach for the right situation. And while travel staffing can have a higher upfront cost, the cost of the wrong solution and not hiring and retaining the right workers is much higher.
Are you using the right methods to solve your problem?
When people assume travel staffing will be a bad experience, it’s often that they’ve had a poor experience with staffing agencies in the past.
One of the most important aspects of a hiring model is that you’re choosing the RIGHT approach for your unique situation.
For example, if you’re looking for a highly specialized technician, the temp model will struggle to find you what you’re looking for, as it’s designed more for general labor needs. If you’re looking for seasonal help or generalized work, that model may work for you. Conversely, the travel staffing model isn’t the best way of finding quantities of general labor.
It’s critical to use the right tool for the right job.
At Skillwork, we are transparent with companies as to whether we’ll be able to help. If we think we can be a good fit and asset to your company, we will tell you. If we don’t think we’re a good solution for your needs, we will tell you that, too.
People like options
Many people we talk to about the travel staffing model are shocked that there are workers out there who want to travel around the country working for different locations. The reality is that in a country of well over 320 million people, there are plenty who like the options.
It’s not for everybody, but the people who do choose to do it love it. Maybe it’s because they were burned out, or they want to travel, or the financial benefits. Take travel nursing—it’s been in place for about 30 years and now makes up 15-20% of the total nursing industry. We’re seeing the same trends in the trades.
People will travel long distances
Many are shocked that workers are willing or interested in traveling long distances for gigs. This is another myth—the average worker stays 300-500 miles from where they’re from. It allows them to focus on work but still go home for a long weekend. Much of the travel model is regional, but there are people who want to go cross-country.
It’s not just for young people
The last misconception we hear the most is that the travel staffing model is just for millennials who have the flexibility to travel and gain experience. However, the reality is that our average Skillworker is 45+ years old, in the stage of life when they can travel again or looking for a fresh start. The beauty of that is that they come with a wealth of experience, which is what most companies are really looking for.
Workers aren’t taken care of
Many companies and workers who have had bad experiences with travel staffing or temp agencies haven’t been taken care of very well by the agencies. Workers don’t feel that they have job security, are underpaid, or placed in jobs that aren’t a good fit.
At Skillwork, one of our core values is respecting and honoring our skilled tradesmen. We treat our Skillworkers as part of our team even though they’re working around the country. We work hard to get them good wages, certifications, training, and take care of their travel needs. This means they show up to the job ready to focus on the work, not on their job security or taking care of their families.
These myths surrounding the travel staffing model are just that—myths and misconceptions. At the end of the day, the travel staffing model might be the solution you’ve been looking for. If you haven’t looked into it already, it’s worth further exploration.
Consider your costs not just in terms of up-front payment but also what you get in return for what you spend. If you get a high value in return for your investment and it solves your issues, the upfront cost isn’t an issue.
Travel staffing may not fix ALL of your problems, but it may be very well suited to some of your needs.
Contact us for an obligation-free consultation and see if we can help ease the burden of your staffing challenges.