In: Operations Management
Contingent workers refer to the workers who work on the part-time basis as freelancers, contractors, leased workers, seasonal based etc. They can be seen as a valuable source for the employers when there is workload in a certain period of time or when the additional demand arises. So, in order to manufacture more units, additional workers may be required. Also, when the full-time workers are on leave in that case also, contingent workers can act as an asset.
Conditions under which contingent workers can be valued by the employers are:
the employer can't replace all its full-time workers with the contingent workers due to the risk associated with the availability of such freelance workers as when the need arises they may not be available to fill in the position and the employer may end up losing a profitable contract. on the other hand, the employer may replace it's nonperforming full-time workers with the contingent workers to save cost and to bring more efficiency in the organization.