For many businesses in New Zealand, being able to find the right staff to fulfil roles quickly, particularly during large projects, seasonal peaks, and unexpected shortages in staff, is a huge challenge.
Fortunately, labour hire through temporary work agencies offers those businesses in need of both skilled and unskilled workers, the chance to find them fast.
Eliminating potential operational stoppages due to a lack of workers, temporary staffing is a convenient and practical solution for any business facing staffing issues, and if you’d like to know more about how it could help your company, here’s a short guide:
Are temporary staffing solutions right for your business?
If you’re currently facing the following scenarios, have previously faced them, or anticipate facing them in the future, labour hire through a temporary staffing agency could save you from lengthy and costly recruitment processes:
- Seasonal demand – the horticultural industry typically faces peak times during harvest, while retail outlets commonly experience busy periods over the holidays.
- Large projects – in the construction industry in particular, a large project may demand more workers, but for a shorter period of time.
- Unexpected shortages in staff – from parental and sick leave, to vacations and resignations, there may be any number of reasons why a company might face a shortage in staffing levels.
How do you go about hiring temporary staff?
There are a few key steps that make up the process for hiring temporary staff, and they are as follows:
1. Tell the recruitment agency what your requirements are
From the type of role you need filled, to the skills required, location, start date and expected duration, these details must be conveyed to the recruitment agency so they can provide you with the right workers for the right roles.
2. Candidate sourcing
While some providers carry out the recruitment process on behalf of their clients, others already have a pool of candidates who have had their references checked, are compliant, have been screened, and who are ready to start work within a few hours’ notice.
3. Placement & onboarding
The chosen worker commences work at your premises, while the recruitment agency takes care of their contract, payroll, taxes and insurance.
4. Ongoing support
Should you need at any time to extend the contract for a temporary worker, or request more, you can reach out to the agency and they will take care of your needs promptly.
And that’s it, it really couldn’t be simpler.
Meeting compliance & legal responsibilities
However, while the process is certainly straightforward and convenient, it doesn’t remove the host employer’s obligations, including providing the workers with a safe environment, clearly defining their job duties, and supervising and managing day-to-day tasks.
The responsibilities of the temporary work agency include employing the worker and paying their wages, handling their taxes and ACC cover, providing employment agreements, and making sure they are compliant with all relevant employment laws.
How to choose the right temporary work agency
Ideally, you should look for employment agencies in Auckland that have the following:
- Relevant industry experience
- Labour law compliance
- Extensive screening and reference checks
- Good customer service
- Short and long-term placements
When you need temporary workers, and fast, why not bypass traditional recruitment – which can be lengthy, stressful and costly – and go straight to an employment agency? Helping you manage costs, scale your workforce as needed, and gain access to pre-vetted skilled and unskilled workers, it’s a quick and easy solution for any New Zealand business who values productivity.