COVID-19 has had an effect on nearly everything this year, but there is one thing that the pandemic cannot stop – the holidays. While the world may look different, one thing has not changed: the expectations of increased consumer spending in Q4. And increased demand could lead to the need to bring in more workers to meet and exceed it. Hiring a temporary workforce for the holidays allows you to be flexible and responsive to the needs of your business and your customers.
Start hiring NOW
The holidays will be here before you know it and you should not make the mistake of waiting to start ramping up for the season. Delaying your hiring of temporary staff to the last minute could lead to crash-course training and slower to develop worker effectiveness. Hiring your temporary workforce early gives you the advantage of implementing optimal training so when your facility starts seeing the impact of high demand your new workers are ready to meet the challenge head on.
Another reason to start early is to get out in front of the competition. As hiring picks up in the 4th quarter, there are certain industries that usually outpace others. It’s no surprise that the retail industry tops the list of job postings towards the end of the year, but waste management, manufacturing, and warehousing also see a lot of hiring at this same time. If you are looking to hire within these industries or hire employees who have the same skills, it’s best to get a head start so you don’t fall behind.
Source: EMSI Job Posting Data, Oct-Dec 2019
Onboarding is key
Overlook onboarding for seasonal employees to your own detriment. Having a thorough, focused orientation and onboarding process that will get your new employees up to speed quickly is a key to a successful holiday season. Making sure that they have the proper training, the right tools, and key contacts to reach out to if they have questions will make for a better experience for all parties. Putting your temporary employees in positions to succeed makes for happier employees and a more effective workforce.
Make them feel like they are a part of the team…because they are!
Even though they may only be with you for a short time, temporary employees are still a part of your company and therefor contribute to the culture. Making sure that your seasonal workers feel like they are part of the whole team (and an integral part of the company’s 4th quarter success) can go a long way to making them feel appreciated.
You don’t have to go it alone
The recruiting and hiring process is long and time consuming, but you don’t have to do on your own. Partnering with a staffing agency to handle your seasonal hiring will save you an incredible amount of time. Imagine how much time you will gain so that you can focus on all the other holiday plans that will make Q4 a success. Choosing the right firm to work with is an important decision and you should do your due diligence to make sure you are working with a staffing agency who will work best with your goals.
You’ve got this
Q4 is always a stressful time of year, but even more so now with COVID-19 effecting every part of business. But with proper planning and optimizing your staffing levels to handle increased demand, your holiday season can be an incredible success.