Hiring
Bench
Staff a provider is paying for but has not placed.
Definition
People employed by a provider who are not currently assigned to a client engagement. A bench is what allows fast starts, because someone is available now rather than after a notice period.
Why it matters
A bench cuts both ways. It is why a good provider can start in days, but it also creates pressure to place whoever is free rather than whoever fits. Asking why this particular person was proposed is a fair and revealing question.
Related
Read next
Pre-vetting
Screening people before they reach your shortlist.
Read the definition ›Body shopping
Supplying headcount with little regard for fit.
Read the definition ›Utilisation rate
The share of paid hours a provider actually bills to clients.
Read the definition ›Ramp-down
Ending or shrinking an engagement in a planned way.
Read the definition ›Next step
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