How does Virtual Staffing differ from hiring freelancers?

Virtual employees save employers money. They don’t need to provide benefits and can hire from a pool of talented people who live in areas with low costs of living. They don’t have to spend on office space or facilitate commuting.

#Remotework is a growing trend that many employees are voluntarily embracing. These workers see the benefits of working from home, including increased productivity and reduced stress.

A recent study has shown that 90% of employees who have worked remotely are less likely to return to a traditional, in-office job. In addition, companies can hire from a larger talent pool when they hire from afar.

How does Virtual Staffing differ from hiring freelancers?

There is a fine line that often gets missed, and business owners have this question because of the nature of their work. Let's clear it up for you.

Virtual employees are regular employees who work from a remote location on the company's payroll. Employers have to offer benefits, rewards, and everything else they have to offer as part of their annual package to these employees working remotely. They allocate all their time to the company and do not take up any other projects.

Some employers may require their employees to clock a certain number of hours every day and have set Key Performance Indicators each month. Employers may deploy project management tools, collaboration apps, and time tracking applications to ensure they have complete control of their employees’ productivity during work hours.

Freelancers are contractual employees who work independently. They can take up as many projects as they wish and outsource menial tasks. They get paid according to milestones or by the hour.

Employers can hire freelancers to work on various projects. Freelancers decide their price, and generally, they are very competitive.

Employers don't have to offer freelancers extra rewards or benefits. Employers also have limited control over freelancers. All that matters is that they deliver their work within set deadlines.

Businesses mostly choose to work with freelancers if they need an extra pair of hands for a specific project or want specific tasks done. Even if the freelancer charges a high one-time rate, it might be only 10% of what the employer would have to pay a regular employee each month.

How Do Companies Hire Virtual Employees?

Employers can directly recruit from online job boards and portals, or they can recruit an outsourcing agency that hires on their behalf. The outsourcing company has a pool of talent, which it assigns candidates to different projects. These employees get paid through the employer's payroll.

However, there’s an emerging type of virtual staffing service provider that helps companies build and develop virtual teams. Business owners often refrain from having virtual teams onboard because of coordination issues.

CloudHire is one such company that can act as a knight in shining armor for distressed companies by taking control of their virtual teams. We hire, manage, and ensure collaboration and separate employees from payroll concerns.

Suppose you are a small business owner, and you're looking to delegate some of your administrative tasks and responsibilities. In that case, we can provide you with a team of virtual assistants who can help complete your day-to-day tasks, allowing you to focus on your passion projects.

 Ready for the virtual staffing trend? Contact us for a free consultation!