Secondment vs. Staff Augmentation: Which One is Right for You?

Quick decisions. Big impact. Maximum efficiency.

Choosing between secondment and staff augmentation? Here’s how to know which model fits your business needs.

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Ask Yourself These Questions:

• Do you need temporary help from within your organization or external specialists?

• Is your project short-term and specific or ongoing and scalable?

• Do you want to maintain control over the employee’s career path or bring in independent experts?

• Is cost savings a top priority, or are you focused on high-level expertise?

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Secondment vs. Staff Augmentation: The Key Differences

Factor	Secondment	Staff Augmentation
Talent Source	Internal employees temporarily reassigned	External professionals brought in
Control	You retain control over the secondee’s development	Augmented staff work independently under your direction
Duration	Temporary, based on business needs	Can be short or long-term depending on the project
Cost	Generally cost-effective as the employee remains on payroll	Can be higher but offers specialized expertise
Best For	Companies with existing talent that can be repurposed	Businesses needing niche skills or additional workforce
Flexibility	Limited to internal availability	Highly flexible, scaling up or down as needed

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When to Choose Secondment

You have skilled employees who can be temporarily reassigned.
You want to develop internal talent while filling a temporary need.
You need to cover a temporary absence (e.g., maternity leave, sabbatical).
You prefer a cost-effective solution without hiring externally.

When to Choose Staff Augmentation

You need specialized expertise not available within your company.
Your workload is increasing, but you’re not ready for full-time hires.
You want quick access to external talent without long-term commitments.
Your team needs additional support to meet project deadlines.

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Final Thoughts

Secondment and staff augmentation aren’t interchangeable—they serve different needs. If you’re looking to repurpose internal talent, secondment is the way to go. If you need external expertise and flexibility, staff augmentation will give you a competitive edge.

Need help deciding? Let’s talk!