Advice for hiring seasonal employees
If your small business operates seasonally or experiences seasonal increases in demand, it’s important to have the appropriate staffing levels in place for these periods so you can be successful. In many cases, hiring seasonal employees can be a cost-effective and flexible way to achieve your business goals. If this is the right course of action for your business, consider these tips on how to assemble a seasonal team that meets your needs.
Know what — and who — you need
Before you begin the seasonal hiring process, think about your business’s goals and needs. For example, hiring holiday help for a retail establishment that operates year-round will be different from staffing up a resort that’s only open for the summer.
Whatever the specifics of your business, you’ll need to identify and define positions to fill, determine how many hires to make (and for how long), and write clear job descriptions. Part of this process also entails thinking about the kinds of workers you need. Do you need employees with specific skills and experience, or is it more important to hire for general qualities like focus, flexibility, or the ability to learn quickly?
Search widely and start early
The sooner you start searching for seasonal employees, the better. This will allow you to get a head start on finding, hiring, and training the people you need. Writing for CareerPlug, Desiree Echevarria recommends casting a wide net with job postings. Online job sites, staffing agencies, local advertisements, your company’s careers page, and referrals can all help you draw in qualified applicants. Indeed suggests targeting people who are more likely to prefer seasonal work, including retirees, college students on break, and stay-at-home parents.
If you’ve hired satisfactory seasonal employees in the past, be sure to contact them and ask them to work for you again. And if you get more qualified applicants than there are positions to fill, keep their information on hand in case you have to replace anyone or expand your team throughout the season.
Offer competitive pay and benefits
Since seasonal employment is only temporary, it’s especially critical to provide competitive compensation. This will help your business attract and retain the workers you need for seasonal success. Along with attractive pay, Echevarria points out that offering perks like bonuses, flexible schedule opportunities, and employee discounts can also give you an advantage.
Prioritize training
Time is of the essence when you’re getting your new seasonal team ready to do the job. The sooner you can bring employees onboard and train them well, the more smoothly things will go for you, your workers, and your customers. Be sure to review your training materials and processes well in advance so you’ll be in a position to thoroughly and efficiently equip your employees for action.
Know how employment law applies
Be sure to inform yourself and seek out counsel regarding legal obligations to your seasonal employees. Writing for Small Business Trends, Barbara Weltman notes that most local, state, and federal laws related to wages, overtime, employment taxes, and workers’ compensation will apply to your temporary team just as they do to your permanent staff.
Hiring seasonal employees isn’t always an easy process, but when done right, it can lead to significant benefits for your business. Start with these tips, and you’ll be well on your way to meeting the challenges of seasonal hiring.
The information in this article was obtained from various sources not associated with Adirondack Bank. While we believe it to be reliable and accurate, we do not warrant the accuracy or reliability of the information. Adirondack Bank is not responsible for, and does not endorse or approve, either implicitly or explicitly, the information provided or the content of any third-party sites that might be hyperlinked from this page. The information is not intended to replace manuals, instructions or information provided by a manufacturer or the advice of a qualified professional, or to affect coverage under any applicable insurance policy. These suggestions are not a complete list of every loss control measure. Adirondack Bank makes no guarantees of results from use of this information.
Source: IMakeNews, Inc.
