Often when you hire freelancers or use an outsourcing service, they work for you remotely. Sometimes you might visit them at their office or another location, or they might come for a meeting on your premises. However, occasionally you might not be satisfied with having them work remotely for you. There are situations when it makes sense for them to come and work in-house, even if they’re not officially employed by you. They might come and work 9 to 5 in the office for a while, or they could just come and provide their services when they’re needed. If you’re considering doing this, there are a few issues you should consider first.
The Need for Bringing Someone In-house
Whether or not you need to bring someone into your office is a big question. There are plenty of tasks that can be completed remotely, with constant communication carried out in various ways. However, sometimes you want to be able to have the person you need right there with you. Some tasks are better addressed by someone who is physically present, instead of working from a remote computer. If you hire an IT consulting company, you might need people to come on site to carry out their job. There are problems that are more difficult to solve from another location. You also might want to make sure that your freelancers or outsourcers can be integrated with the rest of the office.
The Security Issue
If there’s one concern that many people have about bringing an unfamiliar person into their workplace, it’s the security issue. You might feel that by using external professional services in the first place, you’re already creating a security risk. If you bring them into your office, you could be giving them access to other areas they might not see as a remote employee. Having them agree to security rules is one way to protect your business. You can also restrict their access to data and perhaps some areas of the business so they have what they need to do their job without seeing anything they shouldn’t. Be careful with people using their mobile devices too, which can pose a risk from employees and non-employees alike.
Onboarding Your Freelancers/Outsourcers
Integrating your freelancers or outsourcers into your company can be a tricky business. You sometimes need them to feel like they’re part of the fold so that they can do their job well. However, if they’re only with you for a short while, it’s difficult to help them feel at home. Fortunately, there are ways you can make them feel welcome and get them settled in. Make sure that your workplace encourages inclusivity and that your in-house employees are willing to make an effort. Include your guests in any necessary meetings and try to treat them like an employee where possible. For example, you might offer them some of the perks that come with working for you.
Make sure you know where the line is between freelancer or outsource service and permanent employee. It’s important to recognize where one ends and another begins.
