Employing a Contractor

How contractors can help your business

Contract workers can help keep your costs down by only requiring payment for the hours worked. This means no holiday pay, bonuses, or rewards that you would be required to pay full-time employees. Temporary staff can also be the ideal solution for when you are not sure if you want to create a new position in the company, or if you want to trial a worker.

Additionally, temporary contracts give you the freedom of hiring for the short term to see if the staff member will truly be a good fit for the company, without having to worry about how to deal with the situation if they aren’t quite right.

Fast impact. Contract workers are often available to start at short notice. At Michael Page, we pride ourselves on a fast turnaround, sometimes as little as a day. In addition, we help you find highly skilled professionals who can hit the ground running. Short-term workers provide an immediate solution: one that can have an immediate impact.

Shorter notice periods. If your organisation experiences a sudden change or a project finishes sooner than expected you do not have to maintain your contract, temporary and interim workers. Short notice periods mean your workforce can be adjusted to your business’ needs.

Financial savings. You only pay for what you get. Hiring professionals on a contract basis can protect your bottom line as you only pay for the hours worked, without holiday pay, performance rewards,company bonuses or other employee entitlements. In addition, our payment plans allow you to pay as you go, rather than in one lump sum.

Trial new staff members or positions. Hiring potential permanent workers on a contract basis allows you to assess how that individual might fit within your company environment. If you’re considering expanding your business you can trial a new full-time role without making a long-term commitment.

Talk to us about the many ways in which a temporary worker can benefit you and your company.

Contract workers provide extra help for your business with minimal overheads and risk. You might need:

• An extra pair of hands during busy periods
• Specialist help to manage a key project
• To cover permanent staffers’ holidays or parental leave
• Somebody to maintain day-to-day tasks while you recruit for a permanent role

Get the right help at the right time.

Contractors add value to your business without incurring substantial risks and addressing headcount costs and issues. They can be hired to cover permanent staffers’ holidays, project based, parental leave, as well as an extra pair of hands during busy periods. Furthermore, they help to maintain day-to-day tasks while you recruit for a permanent role.

The hourly compensation for hiring an independent contractor might seem higher when compared to a permanent role, but there are other factors to take into consideration, such as flexibility and employee benefits. Since contracting provides greater flexibility in this regard, it can thus be a more cost-effective strategy in the long run.

It's important to clearly define whether your worker is an employee or contractor as it affects your tax, super and other legal obligations. For more information on how a contractor/employee status is determined, visit the Australian Taxation Office and The Office of the Fair Work Ombudsman.

If you require guidance for effective business planning, seeking independent legal advice is important. As a business owner or manager, understanding the legal intricacies surrounding independent contractor agreements is crucial to safeguarding your interests. It's illegal to set up sham contracting arrangements to disguise the employment relationship as a contractor relationship.

We offer a dedicated payroll service so that your contractors will be paid on time and accurately, while reducing the administrative burden on your business.

We use an online portal to manage independent contractors, the working arrangement, hours and payments to provide full transparency.

Whether you’re a contractor or an employer, imagine how much time and energy you’ll save getting all your timesheets, expenses and invoicing done in one place. Our ‘Page Timesheet Portal’ means you can get your contracts and compliance documents reviewed, accepted and approved in minutes, not days.

This new and improved Timesheet and Payroll system offers one-click approvals, automated electronic pay slips and direct access to Work Health & Safety info. It’s all in the one easy, secure location.

With our centralised process you’ll have all the reliable information you need at your fingertips. Now you can make better decisions quickly and with more confidence.

What are the benefits of the Page Timesheet Portal?

As an approver of a contractor, the ‘Page Timesheet Portal’ will offer you a range of benefits such as:

Who do I contact if I have any questions regarding the Page Timesheet Portal?

PageGroup takes pride in ensuring that your experience is as smooth and hassle free as possible. If you have any questions about Page Timesheet Portal please feel free to contact your consultant directly or our friendly Payroll Team PayrollANZ@michaelpage.com.au.

You can also access the portal here: Page Timesheet Portal

Contractors are typically hired for short-term work. As such, integrating company culture might be more challenging. Furthermore, some contractors work with more than one client at the same time, sometimes with their own business, which means that it might be harder to retain their services in the long run.

Michael Page is part of PageGroup, a global leader in recruitment with offices in 30+ countries. Whether you’re seeking experts for project work or professionals to cover busy periods, our specialist consultants will source the best talent.

With a vast talent pool in Australia available to start work immediately, we are dedicated to working with both employer and applicant to ensure the right people are in the right place for both short and long-term contracts. In some cases, we can even offer same-day turnarounds. Our consultants manage the entire recruitment process so that you can focus on the day-to-day running of your business.

We believe in introducing the best people to the best employers. Whether a contractor’s skills and experience are required for a project, to cover staff shortages or to boost expertise in a specialist area, Michael Page Contracting Services can help.

Our dedicated contracting team is on hand to answer your questions and guide you through the recruitment process.  We know that the sooner we can place talented people in your team, the sooner they can begin to make a meaningful contribution.

Our pool of contract talent is highly skilled and ready to start work in your business at short notice. Call upon the expertise of the specialist team at Michael Page, so we can select the right candidate from the vast specialist talent pool available to us.

Every job is different, but the Michael Page Contracting team is acutely aware of the often-urgent need for temporary workers, which is why we make your contractor search a top priority.

Our results are quick, and we have been known to find the right temporary worker for roles in as little as a day. Naturally, Michael Page completes the entire hiring process for you, so you’ll reap the benefits of our efficient results as soon as possible.

We have a contracting team dedicated to filling temporary roles. Request to speak to one of our consultants today to discuss your unique needs: enquiries@michaelpage.com.au

Michael Page has been operating across the globe for over 40 years, and for decades we’ve had a foot set firmly in the Australian recruitment industry, giving us a strong fundamental understanding of the industry, sector and domestic job markets.

We have built robust networks of candidates and employers nationwide and proudly have agencies Australia-wide, servicing most major cities and business hubs across Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra, and Perth.

Operating in 37 markets, we have access to a vast talent pool worldwide. We can find the best candidates regardless of geographical boundaries, offering you diverse and highly qualified options for your roles.

As a temporary or contract professional, you’re either employed on an interim, temporary or contract basis. Here is a quick run down of the differences:

• Interim roles are generally created to cater for short or long-term projects. They are usually management roles that require specialist skills. For instance, specialist interim managers can cover the gap that occurs when someone leaves.
   
• They handle the job on a day-to-day basis; give you the opportunity to properly assess your future needs for the role, help lift your company to the next level, and in some cases even advise on their long-term replacement.
   
• Temporary staff may fill a role for as little as one day. If you are available to work on a temporary basis, we will recommend you to employers who need to fill a role quickly.
   
• Contract roles operate in a very similar manner to interim management, however the type of work varies greatly. In some industries contractors are referred to as freelancers, consultants, fixed term contract workers or a contingent workforce.

The company hiring decides the specifics of each role, so each role is different. Occasionally a contract role will turn into a permanent position.

Contract talent is currently in high demand, so there are many opportunities for you to get your foot in the door now.

Your hourly rate will vary according to your professional skills and experience. Usually you’ll earn more than you would as a full-time employee, to accommodate leave and tax requirements.

Exposure to a variety of companies and roles opens up opportunities to make contacts and trial different job types. Each contract role provides the chance to impress a prospective employer, while widening skills and building experience.

Some contract professionals base their entire career on contract work because they enjoy the flexibility and variety that contract roles provide. Find out more about the benefits of contracting.

Each contract varies greatly. Some last longer than a year while others are only for a few weeks.

Browse the latest contract roles to get a feel for what is the norm in your industry or speak to one of our consultants.

The Michael Page Contracting team will offer you ongoing support, helping you secure the next contract before your current one ends.

We offer contract opportunities across the following industry sectors:

• Accounting & Finance
• Banking & Financial Services
• Construction
• Digital
• Engineering & Manufacturing
• Government
• Not for Profit
• Healthcare & Life Sciences
• Hospitality & Leisure
• Human Resources
• Information Technology
• Legal
• Manufacturing
• Marketing
• Mining, Energy & Resources
• Procurement & Supply Chain
• Property
• Retail
• Sales

Start your journey in contracting today! Apply for contracting jobs and unlock a world of professional possibilities with Michael Page.