Are you ready for the holiday rush?
Staffing Stream
Are you ready for the holiday rush?

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Here come the holidays — and with them, the various time-tested traditions, including staffing.
To get a pulse on the nationwide staffing industry, we circulated a series of questions to our LGC team nationwide. We wanted to know what’s on our clients’ minds. While there are some similarities from geographic region to region, there are also discrepancies that will impact businesses looking to staff up using an agency as the new year nears.
Budget conscious. When asked what consistent asks are coming from clients, responses from our staff more often than not related to budget. Multiple clients want to lower bill rates by offering lower pay per hour. Some of our team members hypothesize this relates to a desire to lower those Covid-19 rate increases that happened a few years ago.
They’re telling us clients are talking about budgets more than ever; most likely these concerns are tied to the chatter about the economy and impending election. We’ve worked with some clients that are taking a chance using online 1099 companies to try to save a few dollars. Those that have returned to traditional staffing models say they were simply unaware of the risks of working with this type of company. Our counsel here is buyer beware. Remember that old saying, “You get what you pay for.”
Long-term assignments. While clients are watching the bottom line, ironically, our staff is also fielding requests for longer term assignments. More full-time shifts are being requested. For part-time assignments, longer shifts are being requested. Temp-to-hire is increasing in some areas. Clients want to staff up.
Quality of candidates. We asked our staff about the quality of candidates available. Quality depends on markets — the market with a diverse candidate has better fill rates and an overall better candidate. In many markets, our staff says workers are finally ready to work again, whereas others the back to work shift is slower.
Types of assignments. Seasonal and regional events and fluctuations are driving demand for chefs and cooks in restaurants and workers in hotels. With the holidays on the horizon, we anticipate an uptick in warehousing and retail requests.
Holiday Staffing Strategies
If your business relies or is considering relying on staffing support this holiday season, our team says it’s best to start by thoroughly reviewing prior staffing levels and performance to identify any gaps. Use historical data and business goals to forecast upcoming staffing needs and develop a proactive recruitment strategy to build a talent pipeline.
The skills gap is often noted as a hiring and staffing challenge. It’s critical to invest in ongoing employee training and career development to maintain high skill levels and engagement. Implement flexible staffing models, such as temporary or part-time roles, and optimize scheduling with workforce management tools. Regularly gather employee feedback to address concerns and improve retention.
Remember, hiring temporary staff comes with a cost. While we know clients are budget conscious, our team will struggle to place a cream of the crop candidate if your budget is too tight. Consider the long-term ramifications of saving a few dollars. If customer service or a particular skill set is critical to your business operation, paying for the best is important to keep things running smoothly.
Here are some ways to consider how staffing can support your team:
- Flexibility and speed. Clients increasingly seek staffing solutions that offer quick turnaround times and flexible arrangements to accommodate fluctuating workloads and urgent needs.
- Short term. Many clients are looking for temporary staff to fill short-term gaps or work on specific events, rather than long-term assignments, in multiple markets.
- Emergency and last-minute staffing. The need for last-minute or emergency staffing solutions has become more common in the last six months, with clients requiring immediate assistance to cover sudden absences or increased workload.
Finding the right staffing partner early in the season is key. The most sought-after workers often make plans for temporary work early, so plan early too to attract them to your team. With the right details and information, a staffing partner can by a guide through the holiday rush anticipating your needs during the busiest of times.