Forbes: why isn’t HR leading the freelance revolution?

The HR role has changed a lot in recent years, with new technologies, emerging skills gaps and a changing workforce. But one thing remains the same: HR typically focuses on full-time hires. But, with companies engaging freelancers more often, it’s time to widen their gaze.
 
Randstad Sourceright’s 2019 Talent Trends research shows that most companies plan to replace up to one-third of their full-timers with freelancers. But instead of HR leading the charge, freelancers and contract workers are often managed in a separate silo, by Procurement leaders, or are processed at the department level.
 
The upside is that more highly skilled individuals are available for work than ever before. The downside can outweigh that advantage, however, with the haphazard treatment of freelancers. Hugely talented people are kept at a distance, and there’s often very little onboarding, championing of the company’s mission and purpose, or tools to support freelancer management and engagement.
 
Today’s freelance revolution is only expected to expand into the years ahead. Now is the time for HR to help ensure the success of non-traditional workers as valued contributors to the bottom line. 

Learn more about this trend and get tips for building an integrated workforce in Forbes. Then check out our white paper, “human cloud platforms: opportunity for a total talent advantage” to learn how you can connect freelance management with your talent operations.