Holiday-staffing needs are an annual challenge for business. How can you improve the way you handle them?
Try these quick ideas to satisfy holiday-staffing needs:
Engage Employees in Planning
Request employee assistance with tracking time-off requests. Also, let your employees know you are using this year’s holiday to plan for next year. This not only improves the data you’re gathering, but it also creates buy-in from employees. They become a part of the decision-making process to solve holiday-staffing needs.
Collect Holiday Time-off Requests
Ask for all holiday time-off requests now from permanent employees. The more advance notice and leeway you have for staffing, the better. Again, let employees know why you need this information and how it helps you solve your holiday-staffing needs.
Use Current Staff Flexibly
Look at the needs of the busy time or a time when many will be on vacation to see if permanent staff can fill new or different roles. This can sometimes be fun for employees, to get to do something different from their usual work.
Set Customer Expectations
If you’re unable to be at the desired staffing level, then identify appropriate ways to avoid disappointing customers. Let them know in advance what to expect.
Temporary Staffing Solutions
Many organizations make use of temporary staff during the holiday season. For short-term solutions, perhaps to cover the Thanksgiving weekend or the Christmas and New Year’s weekends. Flexicrew can place skilled and qualified workers in your open shifts. We also can often find a last-minute replacement for a worker who abruptly takes off during the holiday season. We recommend for temporary or seasonal employees that you have a specific and detailed agreement and set of requirements. Include date and time commitments. If you know your busiest time, then require that all seasonal employees be available to work those days.
For those planning ahead with longer-term vacancies, Flexicrew can supply workers for three-months or longer assignments. Filling holiday schedules with seasonal workers offers the added bonus of staffing with workers who want to work the holidays. They may be alone, or in a new community, or just find it satisfying to be with other team members during the holidays.
Many organizations that want to avoid that annual hassle of holiday-staffing needs have turned to Flexicrew to handle all staffing requirements. We offer the advantage of a national search and an industry database of temporary workers.
Strategize for next year
With this year fresh in mind, give yourself a running start thinking about holiday-staffing needs for next year. But our best suggestion is to take notes now. Then set aside time to plan for 2019 holiday-staffing needs.
Final Thought On Holiday-Staffing Needs
The holiday season can be stressful for HR and operations managers alike. With added holiday-staffing needs, consider this a time to deepen relationships with employees and customers by showing you care about meeting their needs … and that you value their consideration in return.
Your Next Step
Interested in a meeting with us this fall? We can discuss how Flexicrew Staffing can help your business with temporary worker recruitment, temp-to-permanent, or direct hires.
Contact Flexicrew today for more tips or ideas on how to deal with holiday-staffing needs . We can help you to develop your plan and find your staff.