Motivating Variable Employees (Downloadable Version Only!)

The challenge of motivating today's employees is made harder by the fact that the nature of work is changing so dramatically, so quickly. More and more employers have abandoned traditional full-time, career positions in favor of more flexible employment options such as part-time work, independent contractors, and temporary help. This growing category of workers I call "variable" employees because the circumstances of their employment vary so much. For employers, using variable employees means diminished risk in not having traditional employees--and their overhead--on payroll during lean business times or down business cycles.