They go by many different titles: contingent workers, gig employees, freelancers, contractors, but regardless of naming, they all serve the same purpose: providing organizations with flexible, skilled staffing solutions to help them quickly respond to market changes and demands.

Historically, it was very common for organizations to source their contingent labor through a staffing or recruiting company. For a flat fee or a percentage of each workers’ pay, the recruiter would vet resumes, qualify workers, negotiate pay rates, and manage all payroll and compliance for that worker. In return, the client received timely access to skilled consultants and workers and was glad to outsource the process to their trusted suppliers. Now, the landscape has changed, and so too must sourcing strategies. 

Direct Sourcing as a popular sourcing strategy

In an effort to save money, better manage talent, and regain control over their recruits, companies have become increasingly more comfortable taking on some or all of the contingent worker engagement process for simple or frequent openings within their organizations. The practice of engaging contingent workers directly is known as direct sourcing and while it is true that direct sourcing can save companies money, the opposite can also be true if the company doesn’t have the proper resources in place or a formal program to manage the process. This post will address some of the challenges with direct sourcing, as well as five key decisions companies need to make when establishing their own direct sourcing program.

It’s important to note, direct sourcing programs don’t have to be an all-or-nothing approach. In fact, many companies use direct sourcing for routine or frequently engaged contingent worker requirements and still use an outside staffing agency to manage complex roles, executive positions and other senior company positions.

Whichever route you choose, below are some considerations to help enhance your program: