How To Manage Staffing Gaps More Effectively

Unfortunately, there will come a time in your business when you don’t have the full complement of people you need to thrive. While it might be annoying, it is a natural part of running a company.  That’s where managing staffing gaps comes in handy. These methods help you when there’s a hole in your payroll and you just need to find ways to keep things ticking over. 

Advertise Jobs Permanently

One strategy is to advertise your critical roles permanently, something that a lot of top-flight companies do. The idea here is to constantly attract talent without really intending to offer work, simply to find people who meet your criteria when you need them. For example, if you need a person with technical SaaS skills and you’re currently depending on an individual in-house who could move on to a new company at any time, building a list of potential contacts is useful. Then, if they do leave, you can call around and see who’s available to replace them. 

Cross-Train Employees

Another approach is to cross-train employees. The idea here is to prepare them for multiple roles in the company while ensuring that they remain fixed on one or two. Then, if someone leaves, you can move them over quickly. 

You see this approach being used all the time in production companies under the guise of work variety. Managers tell employees that they want them to do many different tasks to make the working day more interesting, whereas it is simply a ploy to ensure that they always have cover, even if everyone in one department has a cold. 

Offer Incentives For Extra Shifts

You could also try offering staff incentives for extra shifts. The best way to do this traditionally was through overtime pay, but you could also offer bonuses or other advantages, like free meals. 

The important thing here is to show your appreciation. You want to let staff know that you value them for taking on extra work, even if it isn’t in their contract. This way, you can boost retention. 

Use Interim Services

Interim services are another option you could try. The idea here is to get partial cover for the lost role before you find a suitable long-term replacement. 

This method works best for C-suite and high-level managerial positions. For example, you might need interim CFO services to tide you over financially until you can get someone with the experience you need to join you full-time. 

Partner With Staffing Agencies

Partnering with staffing agencies helps by providing you with access to a pre-vetted candidate pool. These agencies can often provide the people you need within hours, cutting down on disruption and helping you keep productivity high. 

Scheduling Apps

Finally, you could try using scheduling apps if you’re failing to use existing labor efficiently. These allow you to see who’s working and when so you always have cover. 

AI-driven HR platforms are currently the rage. Many organizations also use Microsoft Teams and Slack to grease the wheels and help staffing run smoothly. 

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