Q: Should I hire full-time staff or temporary employees?

A: Unnecessary hires can costs thousands of dollars. At the same time, profitable opportunities often require staff increases to complete the job. Use these tips to decide whether permanent or temporary staffing is your best solution:

■  Take note of how often deadlines are missed. If the answer is daily or weekly, a permanent hire might be necessary to meet commitments.
■  Keep temporary employees temporary. Consider permanent positions if temporary employees are continually hired for the same job or stay on board beyond six months.
■  Monitor overtime costs. A significant increase in overtime cost is a cue to bring in permanent talent.
■  Evaluate the learning curve. Permanent hires reduce the lag in productivity that results each time a contract staffer is brought in to do work