Temporary Help— A Progressive Management Tool

Abstract

A new breed of managers determined to optimise staffing levels as Britain emerges from the recession is leading to much greater utilisation of temporary help. Kelly Girl, the world's largest temporary help organisation, confident of the growth of this flexible workforce concept, are expanding their activities away from the traditional stronghold of secretaries and office workers, believing there is an increased demand for industrial workers (assemblers, packers) and for skilled factory workers as computer technology continues to impact on the factory floor. The benefits of a temporary workforce cannot be achieved without high‐calibre personnel who are sufficiently capable and flexible to adapt quickly to each new working environment. To this end Kelly Girl utilise the KEE simulator to evaluate skills of word processor operators, as well as providing training and cross‐training on a variety of different machines for the first time. There is definitely a shift of emphasis towards “permanent temporaries” — those choosing temping as a full‐time career.