Marketlend Academy: Five Reasons To Utilise The Gig Economy For Your Small Business
What do you know about the gig economy? How an employer manages their growing small business has changed immensely in the last 10 years, with both employees and employers alike now relying on the flexible and cost effective nature the gig economy presents.
The gig economy refers to the segment of the workforce that relies on freelance and independently contracted jobs. The rise of the gig economy isn’t something necessarily new, but with the growing incentives of flexibility and entrepreneurship, it has seen a steady implementation into the workforce, and now even small businesses.
With the gig economy becoming a growing trend globally, its important to understand why it can be a benefit for your small business. Here are five reasons to utilize the gig economy for your small business, unlocking your businesses potential:
Creating A Collaborative And Healthy Environment
Would you believe people work more efficient and effective when they’re happy? Well statistics have shown that members of the gig economy are so happy with the results of this particular workforce, that 90% plan to continue their professional careers remotely via independently contracted work or freelancing.
Where independently contracted work or freelancing doesn’t necessarily give the traditional comfort and security of a part-time or full-time job, it has empowered and enabled freelancers to create and negotiate their own flexible schedules, as well as crutch on the comfort of working from home. The ability for contracted workers to benefit from their environment at home, while being transparent and fulfilling their work with their employer, can lead to a partnership that is equally beneficial for your small business.
Short term solution without long term consequences financially
Your small business will benefit from using independently contracted or freelance workers for the simple reason that you’re not taking on a long term financial obligation. Having more space in your pocket will be important for your small business, and hiring part-time or full-time employees can bring on burdens of their own. With the flexibility gig economy work presents for your small business, it’s necessary to pinpoint early on when creating your small business what work can be done remotely, and what needs to be done in house.
Technology
The gig economy and technology are converging at a growing rate. With the outsourcing of technological work becoming one of the thriving workforces within the gig economy, it’s no secret why: With the always growing network of computing, communication and technology, it’s important to understand the technological resources you must utilize to protect and strengthen your small business.
From anti-hacking software to creating employee time-cards online, many aspects of keeping and protecting a growing small business refrain back to technological work, so utilizing independent contractors who can maintain and sustain the technological needs of your small business will be important.
Productive and Creative Work
One of the more basic elements of understanding the importance of the gig economy to independently contracted workers or freelancers is the very basic principle that it allows workers to be both productive and creative. With the support and transparent relationship you’ve built with your independently contracted worker or freelancer, you have shown your trust in them to fulfill and meet your businesses expectations, while giving them the comfort and stability of working remotely. From these expectations will come contracted devotion and mutual respect from your independently contracted worker, understanding the benefit and privilege of working from home.
Less Maintenance
When you hire through the gig economy, you ensure yourself less daily maintenance at your small business. With this in mind, it’s important to understand the benefit less maintenance has on you as the overseer of your business and it’s employees. Having work done from remote locations can create an environment in which you are able to maintain your workplace with a little more ease due to less visual obligations.
The gig economy is not perfect. From less security for employees to less stability for employers, it can have its negative effects if relationships and partnerships aren’t monitored and maintained properly.
Workplace dynamics have been historically unpleasing for employees, and the rise of the gig economy can be attributed in some instances to the perceived perils of the traditional workplace. There are many reasons to utilize the gig economy, from the environment it creates for you as an employer, to the flexibility it creates for your employees.