Scott Berkun – the well regarded project management thoughtleader – observes that managers may be missing out by not treating contract/short-term workers well. He isn't advocating that short-timers deserve special or better treatment than full time employees, but he does suggest that there are three important reasons to treat contractors well:

1. Contracts are scouting missions.
   [excerpt:] Any contractor you hire should be
   thought of as a potential full time employee – possibly not even for
   the skill they’re contracting for. Treat them like idiots in a box, and
   you’ll get idiots in a box. But give them a chance to outperform your
   expectations and your next star recruit might already be in your
   office.

2. Contract hires create your network. 
   [excerpt:] While you’re
   climbing the corporate ladder, every contractor has a long sequence of
   future companies and bosses ahead of them. What stories of you will
   they tell? If you ping them in 6 months about job openings on your
   team, will they recommend you to their peers in their new company?
   Contractors are true worker bees. They fly from place to place
   spreading reputations – will they be your ambassador or detractor?

3. They bring new ideas. 
   [excerpt:] Forget what job you hired them for – they bring experience your team might not have, and exposure to ideas new to you.

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