Blended Workforce

What is a Blended Workforce?

A blended workforce in an organization consists of a blend of employees with different types of employment and working arrangements. This is usually done to optimize certain functions of the company, with the goal of maximizing overall profit generation. 

The working arrangements in a blended workforce include:

• Full-time
• Part-time
• Contractual
• Seasonal
• Permanent
• Temporary

How can a Blended Workforce Benefit a Company?

A blended workforce system allows companies to have a mix of talents and skills. They can manage a mixed workforce consisting of permanent employees, freelancers, consultants, and employees without any long-term commitment, especially those on probation.  

Implementing a blended system in the company will allow flexibility in terms of work and staffing. They can employ people with working arrangements based on what the company needs and can afford at that moment. This cuts down on operating costs a lot and helps to manage staffing costs.

Instead of recruiting a massive workforce of permanent employees, employing a blended workforce allows hiring managers to scale up or downsize the workforce rapidly. This will enable them to skip extensive recruitment and termination processes. 

Temporary employees and freelancers typically don’t have employment benefits while working under a company, allowing the management to maintain a leaner budget. 

What are the Drawbacks of a Blended Workforce?

While there are plenty of advantages to having a blended workforce, there are a lot of drawbacks as well. Yes, a company can save a lot by having remote employees and temporary employees. However, with them, the turnover rate is high, which sometimes doesn’t make the process worth it. 

Managing a team of remote employees is also not efficient sometimes as there’s a lack of direct engagement. Due to the lack of physical presence, the communication flow gets hampered, making the feedback processes more confusing and lengthy. Remote workers also feel disconnected from the company as they aren’t receiving employee benefits.

Time zones may differ as well, hindering a smooth work and communication flow. Besides, remote employees and freelancers may feel left out due to no direct involvement with the workplace, which ends up demotivating them. 

Seasonal and contractual employees charge higher payment rates compared to full-time permanent employees. Although some positions don’t need full-time employees and would do better with seasonal contractual or outsourced people, the hourly rates may not end up being justifiable. 

How can a Company Manage a Blended Workforce?

A company that has employed a blended workforce can manage the employees in a few ways. 

Here are some tips on managing such a diverse workforce:

• Set clear expectations on performance and results for everyone, including the remote team members. They should all have clear schedules and goals.
• Instead of focusing on recruiting through one channel, companies employing a blended workforce should use multiple channels to recruit. This will help optimize the recruitment process and allow them to find skilled people.
• It’s better to hire contingent employees at the same time frame and have an onboarding and training program for everyone at once. This way, there won’t be any communication gap, and everyone will be well-acquainted with the corporate culture.
• Everyone should be given the right tools and the same tools to ensure uniform work. They should all have the same communication channel to prevent any confusion.
• Companies with a blended workforce should ensure that all employees feel included, respected, and heard.