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Preparing for Seasonal Hiring Spikes: Why It’s Better to Plan Ahead Than React on Short Notice

Your busy season is approaching, meaning you’ll soon need all hands on deck — at all times. There’s a good chance you’ll need to hire temporary workers, but you’re planning to wait and see how it goes.

This might seem like a good idea, because you don’t want to end up overstaffed if business isn’t as hectic as expected. However, what you might not realize is there’s no obligation to keep temporary staffers on board when they’re not needed. Consequently, it’s always better to plan ahead and make adjustments as you go.

Here’s what you have to gain by going into the chaos with a seasonal hiring plan in place.

Get the Best People

Top temporary talent is in demand, so you have to secure them early. Whether they’re searching for work during a break from school or to save up extra cash for a vacation, these laser-focused people generally know their schedule ahead of time. Therefore, the sooner you start looking for temporary talent, the more selective you can be with who you hire.

Stay on Pace With Demand

Taking a wait-and-see approach to hiring temporary workers might seem like a good plan, but it can lead to lost business. If you need to be visibly short-staffed before bringing on temporary workers, you’ll likely get to the point where you have to turn customers away, until you can expand your team. Some customers might wait it out, but others will turn to your competitors.

Reduce Overtime Expenses

Your existing employees might be willing to put in a few extra hours during busy periods, but relying solely on them will cost you. If you get to the point where you’re required to pay overtime, high payroll expenses will take a huge chunk out of your profits. You can easily avoid this by working with your recruiter to create a staffing plan that eliminates or at least seriously decreases overtime.

Keep Morale High

All work and no rest is an easy way to decrease job satisfaction levels at your company. Even the most committed employees need time away from work to relax and recharge. Adding temporary workers to your team ensures everyone will get to enjoy a solid work-life balance — even when things at your company are crazy busy.