Most managers don’t wake up and decide to call a staffing agency. They wait until something breaks. A big order gets missed. A good supervisor quits. The overtime budget is gone by the middle of the quarter.
If you’re wondering when to use a staffing agency, here are six signs it’s time, ideally before things get to that point.
1. Overtime has become the plan
A little overtime during a busy week is normal. But if your schedule depends on the same people working extra hours every week, something has to give. Eventually it’s your budget, your team’s energy or both.
A staffing partner can add the hands you need so overtime goes back to being the exception.
2. Your supervisors are working the line
When supervisors spend their shifts filling in on open stations, nobody is supervising. Problems take longer to catch, new people don’t get trained and morale slips.
If this happens regularly, you’re understaffed, and your leaders are paying the price.
3. Job postings aren’t working
You post the job. A few people apply. Half don’t show up for the interview. One starts and leaves after a week.
A staffing agency already has candidates who are looking for work and has screened them for the type of job you’re filling. That can save you weeks of posting and waiting.
4. Your HR team is buried
Recruiting hourly workers takes time: screening, interviews, paperwork, onboarding and payroll. If your HR team spends most of its week on hiring, it can’t focus on keeping the people you already have.
A staffing partner takes a lot of that work off their plate.
5. Turnover keeps you starting over
If you’re constantly replacing people who leave in the first few weeks, the issue might be the match, not the people. The job may not be what candidates expected, or the pay, shift or commute may not work for them.
A good agency asks the right questions upfront and is honest with candidates about the job, which helps people stay.
6. You have a busy season or project coming
Peak season, a new contract, a special project or a product launch can all create short-term spikes. Hiring permanent employees for temporary demand doesn’t make sense. Temporary staffing lets you scale up and back down without the long-term commitment.
What to expect when you call Axiom
When you reach out, we’ll start by learning about your business. Our approach is consultative. We want to understand your hiring challenges and site needs before we send anyone. When possible, we’ll visit your site to learn the details of each position.
Then we’ll recommend the right model for each role:
- Temporary staffing for short-term needs and busy seasons
- Temp-to-hire when you want to see someone’s work before hiring them
- Direct hire for permanent and professional roles
And we’ll be honest with you about what’s realistic in your market.
Don’t wait until it breaks
If you recognized your operation in two or more of these signs, it’s probably time to talk. Axiom has been helping employers on the East Coast since 1999, with branches in Georgia, Florida, Virginia, West Virginia and Pennsylvania.
Request Talent and tell us what you’re dealing with. Our job is making your job easier.