The annual festive retail bonanza is just around the corner and it’s time to ask – Is your business ready? For many, the ‘most wonderful time of the year’ is also the busiest, with retailers working long hours to accommodate the crowds. Hiring temporary holiday staff can alleviate this stress while guaranteeing flexibility and peace of mind.
According to a recent survey, hiring managers plan to employ 20% more seasonal workers than last year. It’s a proven strategy to boost productivity and ensure your customers receive the service they’re accustomed to. It’s never too early to get yourself ready for this bustling time of year, so here’s six benefits of hiring temporary holiday staff.
Added Flexibility
Temporary workers offer a flexible solution to a whole host of staffing problems. Whether you need to handle sudden turnover, long-term absence, busy periods like Christmas or special projects, temporary workers can be brought in on short notice to plug the gaps. With the short-term nature of their employment contracts, you won’t be left with a surplus of staff upon completion of your workplace’s busy period.
Unlock Expertise
Temporary staff increase the pool of knowledge you can draw from in your workforce. They bring new skillsets and perspectives to your business that can be turned into improved efficiency or streamlined processes. For example, if you’re thinking of opening a pop-up store for the holidays, you can specifically target experts in that niche to fill the role.
Cost-Effective
Are you aware of the true cost of hiring a permanent employee? What about the average cost of making a bad hire? Employing temporary staff is almost always more cost effective than making a permanent hire. For starters, you can agree an hourly rate with a temporary member of your team as opposed to a salary. The short nature of their employment also means reduced access to benefits and other company perks. Despite their temporary nature, British Columbia’s Employment Standards Act still applies to all hires, so it’s well worth familiarizing yourself with your obligations as an employer.
Long Term Potential
As anyone who has worked in human resources will tell you, finding the right people is tough. If a temporary member of the team is brought on board, they may prove invaluable and you can offer them permanent terms. Even if they aren’t a home run, their presence can reduce the urgency workplaces often face in filling permanent places on the team, allowing you to take your time and find the right fit.
Your Current Staff Will Love It
Running a small team is great for collaboration and synergy but the overwork and stress that busy periods bring can wreak havoc on your staff morale. Temporary holiday staff can alleviate this pressure and provide valuable backup to your existing team. Your staff will see that you care for their welfare, keeping them happy and productive.
Boosted Productivity
As the saying goes, a problem shared is a problem halved. Extra members of your team equals extra bandwidth to tackle tasks around the workplace. It will allow you to get more done in a shorter period, while ensuring service levels never drop and customers stay happy.
Here to Help
No matter what stage of business, or what problem you face, Small Business BC offers a range of seminars and one-on-one advisory sessions to suit any business.
