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It is the penultimate month of the year 2022! This month has key features that mark the crescendo into December – the peak holiday season. Entrepreneur Weekly is arming you with the gears to weather the tides of this busy season. Consumerism is heightened during this period as people are creating their gift lists, corporate companies are preparing their token ideas and Christmas parties are being planned. This places the small business owner in a position to possibly need more assistance than normal. So, let us explore the idea of getting extra hands-on-deck as we look at whether seasonal staffing is right for you and your business.


BambooHR defines seasonal employment as “Temporary work to meet an organization’s temporary needs during certain times of the year.” Continuing, BambooHR explained “Depending on the employer, the location, and the time of year, a seasonal job might only last a few weeks or continue for several months. Seasonal employment does not include any year-round positions.”


With that description in mind, how then can you assess if this is the solution your company may need during this time and the subsequent perks if this is right for you.


You are Experiencing Customer Growth
Have the last few months already seen an increase in patrons to your business and your staff has started to get edgy about the influx? You are experiencing growth in your customer base, and you may expect this to climb as we draw nearer to the busy month of December. Seasonal hiring might be the help that your business needs to shoulder this increase.


TransUnion says “Seasonal hires can be invaluable for small business owners that experience high demand during certain months. An uptick in customers can leave your current team underequipped.” Continuing, TransUnion explained “By bolstering your roster with temporary hires, you can provide the same level of customer service, handle increased demand, and help maintain your company’s reputation.”


You Need Cost-Effective Assistance
As an entrepreneur you are usually very aware of the gaps in your own business and can easily see when a particular area needs assistance. You are also aware that the solutions that are before you might be on the expensive end. Seasonal hiring could be a viable option if it is that the support needed is human resources, but you are financially unable to onboard full-time staff.

As a business, you want to remain productive and profitable during times of peak demand—without sacrificing the quality of products or services and seasonal staffing can provide this benefit. It is true that hiring more full-time employees to handle seasonal demands is not the most cost-effective way to do business, as you likely won’t have the same needs once the holiday season is over. If you have assessed that your demands might change as the peak season ends, temporary employment might be best.

You Need More Flexibility
The holidays are as much for shopping as they are for resting and many of your permanent staff might have already scheduled their leave days for this season. Recruiteze mentioned, “During peak holiday periods, you can easily adjust the size of your workforce to meet your specific holiday needs through temporary staff. Seasonal employees typically don’t have the same expectations as your full-time staff and are often willing and able to step in as your full-time staff asks for time off.”

Additionally, when recruiting seasonal staff, you get to make the work hours and job descriptions suitable for the current needs of your business. This sort of flexibility is useful for peak seasons as the hours may be longer and there might be specific job functions that are necessary during this time.

Considerations When Hiring
After identifying all of these needs and seeing how seasonal hiring might be a good solution for your company’s demands, there are a few things to consider. Though seasonal employment is a cost-effective option you must assess if your business can afford to add more persons to the payroll for up to two months. It is also important to consider if your business has adequate infrastructure in place to onboard temporary workers. Do you have the space? Do you have the time to train for specialised tasks? These questioned must be asked. Additionally, though these posts are temporary, you must also consider the labour laws for these engagements. It is important to do due diligence in assessing if seasonal staffing is something that your business can take on now.

JBDC and Your Business
The Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC) is equipped with Business Development Officers who serve in the Business Advisory Services Unit. They are trained to help you assess the various needs of your business, whether it is assessing staffing needs or bringing your concept to market, as well as access knowledge to help you at every stage of your journey. Register to become a client through the JBDC website at www.jbdc.net. Also check out this episode of the JBDC Virtual Biz Zone on hiring https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKc8Se4sOUo.

Sources
https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbeshumanresourcescouncil/2021/12/22/how-to-overcome-hiring-challenges-this-holiday-season-and-beyond/?sh=34b6d71423cf
https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesbusinesscouncil/2020/09/24/three-tips-for-holiday-seasonal-hiring-during-the-pandemic/?sh=52d7c6d21bf3
https://www.touchbistro.com/blog/seasonal-jobs/
https://smallbusinessbc.ca/article/5-reasons-hiring-seasonal-employees-suits-small-business

Author

Corporate Communications