When GSP initially began working with Bacon, they anticipated using the platform as a temp agency alternative. However, they felt that the Bacon platform would not be a good fit because the position they wanted to fill would require extensive training and be better suited for a long-term temp instead of potentially having new workers each day.
This is a common perception that companies implementing on-demand staffing have. They fear that a gig worker could never to a job that is traditionally reserved for a temp worker. However, on-demand staffing is not the same thing as a temp agency. The Bacon platform is a tool to add to your temp hiring needs. And as with any new tool, you must learn how to utilize it in the best way possible.
Once GSP learned that Bacon’s unique flexibility and instantaneous workforce is what attracts workers, they realized two things:
The difference between a gig worker and a traditional temp worker is that a gig worker is actively choosing to work. When GSP understood this, they realized that they needed to modify the job in a in way that would attract Bacon workers. This meant providing a variety of shift times, lengths, and ensuring that the shifts posted addressed the most basic labor that needed to be done.
By modifying the job to be more simple, GSP maintained a consistency in their posting to ensure that they were reaching a large worker base.
As mentioned above, gig-workers are a flexible breed of workers. They are attracted to variety and ease of access. By posting shifts frequently and offering a variety of shift lengths, GSP ensured that they made themselves available to what Bacon workers have to offer.
"Build your Bench of Talent." We say it a lot. But the truth is that it's something we are all searching for--and it's something that Bacon can provide.
In the world of on-demand staffing, Build your Bench of Talent means providing consistent and clear opportunities in a repeatable fashion to allow gig-workers to have a chance to view your company as a reliable, yet flexible workplace. Once they view it as such, they will continue to come back for more.
Just as we saw with GSP, it took optimization of shift postings, time, and consistency for GSP to start to see the constant flow of familiar faces start to fill their shifts. While not every worker comes back for a second shift, GSP constantly experiences a fresh bench of talent with a mix of those who have worked the shift before and those who have not. It all takes time.
The fact remains that it never hurts to post a shift. GSP tried posting different shift lengths, times, and types to experiment with what resonates best with the gig-workforce around them. If you are not posting shifts, then you are not building a bench.
