Page 39 - BusinessWest August 4, 2021

Jeremiah Beaudry says even companies that have built up internal IT staffing often come to see the value in outsourcing that work.
ize that internal IT is less cost-effective. “Instead of paying full-time employees to
show up every day, companies can hire an IT firm that knows all the technical details and address specific problems when they arise,” Beaudry said. “It would be similar to bringing a plumber on staff. Why would you do that?”
In fact, he predicts that the hiring surge for internal IT will shake out to one or two positions to oversee the main systems augmented by an outside IT service provider.
Bean said it’s common for companies to have an internal person handling technology issues as well as an outside IT service company. “Our big- gest source of new business right now involves
partnering with internal IT departments to round out what they are doing and give them supple- mental assistance.”
Here and There
Like many industries right now, technol- ogy is grappling with a job market that signifi- cantly favors job seekers. Bean told the story of an employee who had previously worked in the defense-contracting industry 10 years ago.
“Because this employee’s name was still in the defense system, a contractor called him to make a job offer, sight unseen and without an interview,” he said. “They literally e-mailed him an electronic salary offer without meeting him,
and it was for $35,000 more than he was making here.”
A company located in a large metro area inter- ested in hiring remote workers will offer salaries that are competitive in their market. This can often lead to small-market workers getting big- city paydays.
“Usually, when someone makes a salary that’s
“If you’re at home and take five minutes between tasks to turn around to pet your dog or do
the dishes real quick, that time becomes meaningful and helpful in your life.”
attractive in Boston, it comes with the high cost of living in the metro Boston area,” Bean said. “When someone with a Western Mass. cost of liv- ing makes that same amount, they can see a 30% net increase in their salary.”
Indeed, more companies than ever are embracing remote or hybrid workforces (see related story on page 25). That means IT service providers face the same dilemma confronting many of their clients: continue to work from home or go back to the office.
Workforce
Continued on page 46
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