Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, employers and managers have had to battle and overcome many challenges. Some managed to keep their companies afloat, and some have even sparked growth and expansion for their brands. Others, inevitably, were forced to close their doors and wait for better days when they can resume their operations.
Among the many problems and challenges that have occurred during this time, employee-related problems are among the primary ones. The pandemic has caused many businesses to become short of staff very quickly, which inevitably leads to poor productivity and output.
Understaffing and poor staff management in times of crisis is a big problem nowadays, which is why you have to shift your focus to your employees, your hiring and onboarding processes, and how you manage your entire workforce. Let’s answer all of these questions and share the five tips that help you avoid understaffing and poor staff management in your business.
Ramp up your hiring process
In times of uncertainty, when you’re never sure when you’re going to need a new employee, you have to rely on an efficient and effective hiring process. Now is the time to start hiring more efficiently, and there are a number of ways you can do that to prevent understaffing.
Firstly, always keep a backlog of candidates that fit different roles in your company, whom you can get in touch with on a moment’s notice. You’ll have a much higher chance of filling out the position quickly if it’s someone you’ve already met in the past.
Next, be sure to make your hiring process more efficient through streamlined interviews, video and phone interviews, and by reaching out to candidates as soon as the position opens up. Have a list of networks and online platforms where you can reach out to people quickly.
Streamline onboarding and training
Of course, it’s not just about hiring quickly or hiring the right person, it’s also about getting that person ready for their new role as efficiently as possible. Because after all, your goal is for the newcomer to become a productive member of your team from day one if possible.
To do that, you need to have a streamlined onboarding process. Consider automating parts of onboarding with digital welcome packs containing video tutorials, Q&A sections, explainer infographic, and everything they need to join your team in a productive way.
Consider using the buddy system as well, where you pair the newcomer with a veteran in your company to show them around and teach them the ropes quickly. As for HR and processing the papers, use dedicated HR software to onboard the new employee automatically and without wasting any time.
Manage your workforce in real-time
To prevent understaffing, especially if you’re managing teams remotely or running multiple locations, you need a comprehensive overview of your workforce in real-time. You can’t hope to do this manually, of course, so you need time and attendance solutions with the right features for your needs.
Opt for a solution that will allow you to automate repetitive HR tasks, as well as employee scheduling and engagement. This will not only help you save time, but also minimize the risk of mistakes by eliminating error-prone paperwork and manual employee scheduling.
Using automated workforce solutions will help easily you keep track of your employees’ progress and their schedules in real-time and make smarter decisions when managing your workforce.
Communicate efficiently and effectively
Communication is one of the foundational pillars of productivity, but also of good employee management and rostering. As you know, you have to create good rosters that work for you and your employees in order to avoid unpleasant scenarios and issues with attendance.
At the base of all this is good, honest, and timely communication. Keep your communication lines with your employees open at all times, and use a dedicated communication and feedback tool so that you can create shifts and rosters with the employees’ best interest in mind. This way, you can be sure that everyone will show up for work and be happy about it.
Hire temporary workers or outsource some jobs
Last but not least, don’t be afraid to reach out to freelancers, temporary fill-ins, and to just outsource the work in general. The gig economy is thriving right now all over the world, and people are looking for temp and part-time jobs to supplement their income, which is your opportunity to supplement your staff quickly.
You can find temp workers all over the web, especially if you post your job openings on popular freelancing platforms. If you need temp workers to be physically present at one of your locations, then be sure to use word-of-mouth to get in touch with talented individuals that your employees may know. Be specific in the contract that this is just a temp job, but keep an open mind – some of these temp workers might prove to be exactly what you need to take your business forward.
Wrapping up
Realizing that you’re understaffed can put you and your entire operation under a lot of stress. In order to survive and thrive during a global crisis, you need to have the right people at your side. Use these tips to ensure you’re always properly staffed and that you’re continually pushing your business to new heights.
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