Summer is officially here! But as the nation basks in record breaking temperatures, potential staff shortages could put a dampener on employers enjoying the hot weather.
With an influx of annual leave requests particularly during this time of year, offices can feel half empty and teams much smaller. With imminent deadlines and customer demand at its peak for some businesses, this could present unwanted challenges for employers.
One solution is the ability to tap into a pool of skilled labour at short notice, which has many benefits.
Flexibility
The growth of the ‘gig’ economy has created a ready pool of skilled, professional temporary workers who can help boost productivity and offer you the expertise you require at the right time. No sifting through CVs, interviews or collecting references, as the recruitment agency will do the work for you. Temporary staff are usually open to flexible working arrangements and are used to joining organisations for a short period. In most instances you can agree an immediate start, offering flexibility for your business and operational requirements.
Efficiency
Temporary staff are accustomed to adapting quickly to new processes and systems and working under pressure, so they can hit the ground running. If current employees are struggling to meet the demands of the business, temporary staff can help maintain high standards as they will often have a lot of experience of working with a variety of organisations in different ways. They may also offer a fresh perspective on strategies and identify best practice to improve results.
Boost morale
Being short staffed can impact the smooth running of a business which can potentially result in a drop in service levels. While employees enjoy their holidays, colleagues could be left feeling under pressure as workloads increase. This can impact work-life balance and wellbeing which could result in burnout. Allowing employees to delegate some of their responsibilities to a temporary worker might not only ensure the demands of the business are met, it could also leave permanent employees feeling less stressed and more motivated.
Save costs
Hiring temporary workers can be a cost-effective solution for a business as it avoids the costs that would normally be incurred during the advertising and recruitment process. The agency will sort all this for you, and whilst they will charge for this service, if you work exclusively with one agency you are likely be offered discounted rates. Temporary staff can also help you save money as they are not paid a fixed annual salary – you only pay for them when you need them. However, the Agency Workers Regulations 2010 (AWR) ensure that any temporary worker who completes a 12-week qualification period in the same job role must be treated equally to a comparable permanent employee with regards to basic working and employment conditions, including salary and benefits. In addition, the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, Working Time Regulations 1998, Equality Act 2010 and National Minimum Wage Act 1998 all apply to temporary workers.
If your business is planning to hire temporary workers to alleviate potential summer staffing issues, contact us on 01942 727200 for further advice or email enquiries@employeemanagement.co.uk