Stay focused, stay flexible.
After 20 years of working in the staffing industry, I can say one thing has never changed, and that is that the employment market is always changing!
Sometimes the change occurs at a slow pace, almost unnoticeable if you aren’t in the industry to see firsthand, and sometimes the change is so rapid that everyone can see and feel it. The rate of fluctuation typically mirrors what is happening in the economy as a whole. We are entering an economic period of change based on factors that are new to most of us in the business community, which makes it hard to determine the full impact they will have on our business. A.I. and Tariffs seem to be scary words that I actually cringed while writing, not necessarily from fear myself, but more that I don’t want to provoke fear in others. (I’m hoping you’ll keep reading, as we do try to offer solutions for employers.)
While we may not be able to fully predict the impact these changes will have on our businesses, it’s important to be aware of them, stay focused on the road ahead and position your business to have options when a need arises. Businesses that have just come through another tough time (we’ll call it 2020-2022) have learned to be flexible with their staff: Solutions like remote work, job sharing and staggered scheduling were adopted for a very unprecedented time, and some employers have continued to use these models since. We know these don’t always work for every employer, as some places still need the old ‘boots on the ground’ type of employees. So, as we head into the next stage of ‘not sure exactly what’s coming’, we encourage employers to use this time to take stock of the skills they have available to them with their current staff. If demand is up but you’re unsure for how long, are you able to cross-train staff from other areas? That’s always your best first option to consider; however, this may only be feasible for larger employers that have enough staff.
If you’re a small business or even a larger business that is running at full capacity and your team members are already wearing many hats, but you just aren’t sure if the work is stable enough to commit to a new person, consider hiring a temporary employee. This is an option that we’ve provided for a number of years for seasonal or project work, short term/long term leaves, mat leaves, vacation coverage, etc. etc. but more and more we are seeing that this is an option that employers are considering when there is just too much work to be done by their current staff but they aren’t quite ready to commit. It’s a delicate balance between maximizing efficiency from your people and facing burnout with them.
Uncertainty is hard for employers, but don’t lose sight of the fact that the people who work for you feel it too. Communicate openly with your people about challenges and decisions, and don’t forget to show appreciation for all they do.
Some key points to remember as an employer in an uncertain economy:
Know your staffing options
Know your current bank of skillsets
Know how your people are feeling and if they need additional support
Know how important your people are to your business and make sure they know too!