Navigating the Freelance Economy: Top 5 Challenges for Event Teams
In the evolving meetings and events landscape, businesses increasingly rely on freelancers to scale their teams and inject agility into their programs. However, managing a contingent workforce at scale is fraught with challenges that can potentially stunt a company’s growth. Over the past 35 years, we’ve had conversations with various companies and it has become evident there are five common hurdles to navigating the freelance economy:
Challenge 1: High Sourcing Costs
Finding quality meeting and event freelancers can be an expensive endeavor. Many businesses find themselves dependent on costly marketplace platforms that offer no assurance of securing talent that meets their exact needs. This financial burden can significantly impact budgets, making it crucial for companies to seek more cost-efficient sourcing strategies. Those opting to forego marketplaces and manage things in-house still face the challenge of drained resources and time to find the talent they need.
Challenge 2: Manual Onboarding
The traditional processes of onboarding and assigning freelancers are neither efficient nor foolproof. Manual management of contracts and SOWs not only demands a substantial amount of time but also increases the risk of operational blunders and compliance risks. Streamlining these processes can lead to better management and utilization of freelance talent.
Challenge 3: Contracting & Compliance Woes
Navigating the complex legal landscape of freelancer contracts is akin to walking through a minefield. With varying local, state, and federal regulations, ensuring compliance without expert guidance is a constant challenge and it only takes one hiccup to tarnish the financial and brand reputation of a company. This complexity and looming risk underscores the need for robust contractual and compliance frameworks.
Challenge 4: Availability & Engagement
Top freelance event staff is always in high demand and without centralized systems in place, keeping tabs on freelancers’ availability and maintaining their engagement is an uphill battle. The lack of such systems often results in missed opportunities and the underutilization of talent, emphasizing the importance of effective communication and freelancer engagement tools.
Challenge 5: Event Freelancer Churn
A high turnover rate among freelancers can disrupt event continuity and lead to additional costs associated with sourcing and engaging new talent. This churn is often the result of insufficient support and engagement, highlighting the need for structured frameworks that foster long-term relationships with freelancers.
Final Thoughts
Together, these challenges present significant barriers to leveraging contingent workforces effectively. However, by turning to a partner who can address all these issues, event teams can position themselves to take full advantage of the flexibility and experience that event freelancers bring to the table.
This shift toward more strategic and compliant management of freelance talent is not just beneficial; it’s imperative for businesses aiming to leverage the freelance economy while creating memorable attendee experiences for years to come.
If any of these challenges sound familiar, contact a Plannernet expert today and learn how we can address all of these for you and your team.
