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THE
BOTTOM LINE
Avoid
the Summer Staffing Blues
By Liese
Hutchison
It’s summertime
and that means vacation time. Millions of American workers will
hit the highways, skyways, train tracks and oceans to escape,
relax and rejuvenate. But where does that leave co-workers who
aren’t vacationing and clients who still want top-quality service?
If organizations aren’t careful, vacation time could mean lower
productivity and lower customer service.
Temporary staffing may be the answer. Organizations already
use temps for sudden increases in workflow, unexpected sick
leaves, expected sick leaves and as a means for trying out potential
full-time employees. But according to a study conducted by the
Society for Human Resource Management, 46 percent of human resource
professionals use alternative workers to replace temporarily
absent staff personnel, and that includes summer vacations.
“Our summer months are peak times,” notes Mary Jo Janc, area
manager for ManPower Staffing. Organizations use staffing companies,
because the workers are already interviewed, tested and trained
Janc says.
But why use a staffing company for a one- or two-week vacation?
To avoid overworked core employees, says Robin Hoatlin, branch
manager for Robert Half International, Inc. “The temporary employee
is a buffer between the core employee and the influx of more
work. Over worked core employees can result in low morale, high
turnover and lower customer satisfaction.” Hoatlin views using
temporary staffing as simply rightsizing and says an organization
must determine the right size of its staff by analyzing the
department, manager and company’s needs during the summer, determine
where the shortcomings will be and analyze the core employees
and temporary employees to determine what mix will work.
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The
staffing industry matches millions of people to millions
of jobs.
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- 2.9
million people per day are employed by staffing companies.
- 1
million new jobs have been created by staffing companies
over the last five years.
- 80
percent of temporary employees work full time, virtually
the same as the rest of the work force.
- 74
percent of temporary employees say it’s a way to get
a permanent job.
- 72
percent of temporary employees go on to permanent
jobs.
- 40
percent of assigned employees are looking for their
first permanent job or are re-entering the job market.
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If the person on vacation has a highly skilled job, Sue Putnam,
executive vice president of the Linde Group, offers a solution.
“Team-oriented companies may have staff who can fill in for
each other if there’s a lot of training and specialization needed
for the position,” she points out. “Or they can move someone
who is familiar with that job into it and hire a temporary worker
for the less specialized position.” Even if a temp can’t be
trained exactly for one position he or she can free up part
of someone else’s job who can then fill in for the vacationer.
Temporary workers aren’t just secretaries. For instance, the
Linde Group offers physicians, accountants and administrators.
All staffing agencies have expanded the breadth and depth of
skilled workers needed in today’s workplace. From maintenance
workers to customer service reps to engineers to sign-language
interpreters, there’s a temp available to ensure summer vacation
time doesn’t translate into down time.
Frequently
asked staffing questions:
How big is the industry?
The staffing industry generated some $72 billion in revenue
in 1998: $59 billion from temporary help services and $13 billion
in permanent placement services.
How many companies use staffing services?
90 percent of companies use temporary help services.
What accounts for the growth of the industry?
America’s work force is changing as more and more people are
looking for the flexibility that temporary work provides. Companies
are tapping into the flexible labor market to keep fully staffed
during busy times.
What kind of pay and benefits do temporary employees receive?
The average assigned employee earns more than $10 per hour.
Some temporary employees earn more than their permanent counterparts.
Most staffing companies offer health insurance as well as vacation
and holiday pay, and many offer retirement plans.
What are the trends in the kinds of jobs being assigned?
The fastest growth is occurring in professional and technical
occupations.
How long do people hold temporary jobs?
While specific jobs may last from a few hours to several years,
the best estimates for the average tenure of assigned employees
range from three to five months.
How many staffing companies are there in the U.S.?
There are about 7,000 firms that have been in business a year
or more. Those companies operate approximately 17,500 offices.
Sources: American Staffing Association, Staffing Industry Report,
The Conference Board, The Omnicomp Group
Liese L. Hutchison is an assistant professor in the department
of communication at Saint Louis University and a free-lance
writer.
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