The wording in the community update is a bit vague:
"Should you so choose, you’ll be able to create a custom party without any Origins, opting instead to have Hirelings join you on the road – mercenaries who can be hired to join your team temporarily.
In Baldur’s Gate 3, there are 12 Hirelings available for you to recruit – one for each class. Each has their own name, visuals, and race, and can be respecced at any time."
So they can be respecced, assuming completely, probably even Race and Name. Seems like an extra step, but maybe they thought this makes it easier for people who are not to familiar with D&D and RPGs in general.
What I'm wondering is the "join temporarily" part. That just makes no sense to me at all.
