Often employers contract with semi-retired professionals with a wealth of expertise but who do not desire to work for one company full time. This segment of the workforce typically wants the social and intellectual interactions that come with working, but also crave flexibility and control over their time. The freedom of working on a project basis is very attractive to semi-retired individuals who are eager to have the best of both worlds.
To successfully utilize project-based contractors, you should:
- Think through what you need from the contractor. That will help determine which type of contractor relationship is right for the job.
- Understand the distinction between an independent contractor and an employee. Projects should have start and end dates. Contractors should have control over their schedules and the manner in which they approach their work. Hiring contractors through a firm that specializes in project-based placements will often relieve you of this worry.
- Define the project at the start and set up milestones to monitor progress.
- Address intellectual property rights and knowledge sharing. Take precautions to avoid proprietary information to walk out the door along with the contractor.
- Set up systems for group collaboration. Whether they are face-to-face or electronic conferences ensure contractors are communicating frequently with the various stakeholders in the project.
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