Preparing Your Business for the Busy Season: Why You Need Temp Workers

Laurie Wherley
November 3, 2023

7 min read

As the calendar pages turn and the busy season looms on the horizon, businesses scramble to strategize. One key question that often surfaces is: should we hire temporary workers?

Each business, whether it’s warehousing and logistics during the holidays or a haunted house around Halloween, has its peak season. These are times when consumer demand surges, and operational challenges rise in tandem. So, why is it essential for businesses to prepare specifically for these periods? The answer lies in maximizing profits, maintaining service quality, and ensuring smooth operations during the most lucrative times of the year.

Table of Contents

Understanding the need for temp workers
The role beyond “extra hands”
Temp workers across industries
Finding the right balance
The process of hiring temp workers
Considerations before hiring temp workers
Conclusion
The power of Jobble in streamlining your hiring needs

Understanding the need for temp workers

In the ever-changing landscape of business, one constant remains: the cyclical nature of demand. As seasons change, so do the needs of the consumer. This can lead to peaks of intense activity followed by quieter periods. Temporary workers, often viewed as mere supplemental staff, actually play a more vital role than most realize.

The role beyond “extra hands”

When we think of temporary workers, the immediate image might be that of an additional cashier at the supermarket during holiday sales or an extra hand at a warehouse during the end-of-year inventory. However, the role they play is more profound.

They’re not just about dealing with an increased number of customers or transactions. They manage overflow, ensuring tasks are handled efficiently and customer satisfaction remains high. They take on roles that might otherwise overburden permanent staff, ensuring that business operations don’t just continue but thrive.

Temp workers across industries

The impact of temporary workers isn’t limited to a few sectors. Various industries, from retail to events, leverage the power of temp staffing to navigate their high-demand periods efficiently. Here’s an expanded breakdown:

Retail:

Retail remains one of the most dynamic sectors, with its demand varying significantly throughout the year.

Holiday Seasons: From Black Friday sales to festive holiday rushes, this is when retail really feels the surge. Temp workers step in to manage longer opening hours, ensure faster checkouts, and keep shelves stocked.
Product Launches: When a much-anticipated product hits the shelves, be it a new tech gadget or a limited edition collection, retail stores often hire additional hands to manage the rush.
Inventory and Stock Taking: At specific times of the year, retail outlets conduct inventory checks. Temporary workers assist in this labor-intensive task, ensuring it’s completed efficiently.

Hospitality:

The ebb and flow in hospitality are often dictated by the calendar and geography.

Peak Tourist Seasons: Whether it’s the ski resorts during winter or tropical beachfront hotels in summer, there’s a clear uptick in demand. Hotels and resorts bolster their staff strength from front desk personnel to housekeeping to ensure guests receive top-notch service.
Food Service: Restaurants, especially in tourist hotspots, see seasonal spikes. Temporary chefs, waitstaff, and even managerial positions might be filled to cater to the influx of diners. Special events or festivals in a city can also lead to a surge in demand for food service professionals.

Agriculture:

The nature of agriculture is inherently seasonal.

Harvest Time: Different crops have varying harvest seasons. Temporary workers are crucial to ensure that crops are picked at their prime, processed, and then transported to markets promptly.
Planting Seasons: Just like harvest, the planting season requires additional hands to sow seeds or plant saplings, preparing for the next yield.

Events:

The events industry is project-based, and demands can spike suddenly.

Festivals and Concerts: Big music festivals, cultural events, or city-wide celebrations often hire temp workers for everything from ticketing to backstage management.
Corporate Events: Annual conferences, product launches, or trade shows often require temporary staff for smooth operations. They can range from event planners and assistants to technical staff.

Supply chain:

A robust supply chain is the backbone of many businesses, and it needs to be agile.

Holiday Shipments: As retailers prepare for the holiday rush, there’s a corresponding increase in demand for supply chain professionals. This includes roles in warehousing, logistics, and transportation.
Product Launches and Recalls: When a new product is launched, or in unfortunate cases, a product recall is announced, supply chains need to move quickly. Temporary workers help ensure these processes are streamlined and efficient.

In essence, industries far and wide recognize the invaluable role temporary workers play. They provide the flexibility and dynamism required to meet fluctuating demands, ensuring business continuity and customer satisfaction

Finding the right balance

Every business aims for predictability, but the reality is far from it. Demand can surge unexpectedly or might be more intense than anticipated. Temporary workers allow businesses to be agile. They provide the flexibility to ramp up operations rapidly and then scale down when the demand wanes, without the long-term commitment and costs associated with permanent hires.

In essence, temporary workers are the unsung heroes, allowing businesses to navigate the complexities of seasonal demands seamlessly. They are the bridge that ensures businesses not only meet their targets but also exceed customer expectations.

The process of hiring temp workers

While temporary workers prove to be a boon for businesses, hiring them isn’t just about picking a few resumes off the pile. It requires a systematic approach to ensure the best fit, smooth onboarding, and efficient integration into the existing work environment.

1. Identify needs: Before diving into the hiring process, businesses must take a step back and evaluate their needs. This means:

Role analysis: Understand the roles that need filling. Is it customer service, logistics, or perhaps backend operations?
Duration of employment: Define how long you need the temp workers. It could be for a few weeks, a specific season, or even several months.
Skill Sets: Outline the specific skills required for each role. While some positions might need specialized skills, others might just require general competencies.

2. Choose a staffing solution: Partnering with a specialized agency is crucial. This ensures:

Industry expertise: A staffing solution or hiring agency specialized in your industry will have a database of workers who understand your specific needs.
Vetting process: Reputed agencies have stringent vetting processes ensuring you get skilled, reliable, and trustworthy workers.
Flexibility: Such agencies can often accommodate last-minute staffing requirements, ensuring you’re never left in a lurch.

3. Training: While temp workers might have experience, it’s crucial they understand the nuances of your specific business. Here’s how:

Orientation: Begin with a basic orientation about the company, its values, and its objectives.
Role-specific training: Equip them with tools and training specific to their role in your business. This ensures they can hit the ground running.
Feedback mechanism: Create a two-way feedback channel. This helps in understanding any challenges they face and addressing them promptly.

4. Integration: Ensuring temporary workers feel integrated into the team can enhance productivity and overall morale. Here are some steps:

Welcoming atmosphere: Encourage your permanent staff to be receptive. A simple introduction can break the ice and set the tone.
Mentorship programs: Assign mentors from your permanent staff to guide and assist the temporary workers. This aids in quicker resolution of doubts and fosters a sense of belonging.
Team activities: Involve temp workers in team lunches, meetings, or any team-building activity. This not only boosts their morale but also strengthens team cohesion.

Considerations before hiring temp workers

1. Actual staffing needs: Before thinking about hiring, understanding the actual need is pivotal. Here’s how to ascertain that:

Historical data analysis: Dive into your business metrics from previous peak seasons. How many temp workers were hired? Were they sufficient, or was there a shortfall? Understanding past trends can offer a reliable gauge for future needs.
Workload projection: Based on current business growth and market trends, project the expected increase in workload. Will there be more customers? Are there additional events or sales planned?
Current workforce strength: Evaluate your current team’s capacity. Perhaps they can handle a certain percentage of the increased workload, which can then be supplemented by temp workers.

2. Budgetary constraints: Financial planning is an integral part of the hiring process. Here’s what businesses need to consider:

Cost-benefit analysis: While hiring temp workers can relieve the burden on permanent staff and increase efficiency, it’s vital to understand the financial implications. Will the increase in sales or productivity outweigh the costs?
Training & onboarding costs: Beyond the salaries, consider other associated costs. How much will be spent on training these temporary employees? Are there additional resources required for their onboarding?
Unforeseen expenditures: Always keep a buffer. Unexpected costs can arise, like overtime payments or additional training materials.

3. The Right Staffing Solution: Selecting the appropriate staffing agency is as vital as the hiring itself. Here’s how to ensure a perfect match:

Industry expertise: The agency should have a proven track record in your industry. This ensures they have a comprehensive database of relevant candidates and understand the nuances of your business.
Alignment with company ethos: Every company has its unique culture and values. The agency should appreciate this ethos and bring in candidates who resonate with it.
Transparent communication: A good agency or staffing solution should be open to feedback and maintain transparent communication. Whether it’s about the type of candidates they’re sourcing or the charges involved, clear dialogue ensures a smooth partnership.

Conclusion

As businesses face the relentless tide of seasonal demands, the strategic inclusion of temporary workers becomes imperative. They are not just a stopgap or a short-term solution; they are an essential component of a well-orchestrated business strategy. Leveraging temporary talent allows companies to remain agile, adaptable, and efficient, ensuring they make the most of their peak periods.
While the process of hiring these invaluable assets might seem intricate, platforms like Jobble simplify the journey. Ultimately, for businesses aiming to maximize opportunities and minimize challenges during their busiest times, integrating temp workers into their workforce isn’t just an option—it’s a necessity.

The power of Jobble in streamlining your hiring needs

If the challenges of hiring temp workers seem daunting, Jobble offers a seamless solution. It’s the ultimate answer to your flexible staffing needs.

Why Jobble?

Vast Pool of Candidates: With Jobble, you have access to over 5 million gig workers, ensuring you find the right fit for your requirements.
Quick Turnaround: It’s not just about hiring; it’s about hiring fast. 90% of shifts are filled in 24 hours or less—guaranteed.
Efficient Onboarding: Say goodbye to lengthy training periods. Jobble ensures streamlined onboarding so that your temp workers are ready to roll in no time.
Transparent Hiring Process: The platform offers a transparent hiring process, giving businesses the confidence in their staffing choices.

Whether it’s the busy season or an unexpected surge in demand, with Jobble, you’re always prepared. Our platform simplifies the hiring process, saving time and resources, allowing your business to focus on what they do best. So, why wait? Discover the power of Jobble by scheduling a demo with one of our hiring experts today.