Employee turnover is a big problem these days — over 20% of new hires leave their jobs within a month and a half of being hired. And almost 60% of organizations say that employee retention is an issue. It can also be frustrating investing time and energy into hiring and then training, only to have your employees leave shortly thereafter. Staffing services can take some of that strain off — and hopefully find you committed, long-term employees. However, if you’re a company that really does depend on seasonal help, a staffing service can also be the perfect connection for supplying you with workers and employees with temp jobs. Over three million temp workers and contracted employees work for the staffing companies in the United States during any week, so there’s a wide pool to choose from.
Why Is Employee Turnover So Tough?
There’s a reason almost half of human resources professionals list retention as their biggest concern. Over $10 billion is lost every year because of employee turnover and the cost of that is anywhere from 30%-150% of the employee’s salary. Significant resources go into finding qualified candidates for positions and when those are filled, then left shortly thereafter, the process must start again. Resources that went into training the candidate go to waste — another loss for the company.
Furthermore, it’s difficult to build a dedicated team and a sense of camaraderie among coworkers if people keep leaving. If upper management positions are constantly switching, leadership visions and direction will also change, which can cause conflict and an unstable work environment for those who work under those positions.
It also might be indicative of a work culture or environment that needs changing. What can your company do better? How can you be more attractive to potential employees and meet (and surpass) the needs of your current employees?
What Services Will a Staffing Service Offer?
First and foremost, a staffing service will open you up to a much larger pool of qualified applicants that you might not previously have had access to. They’ll have a better sense of what the marketplace looks like for your particular industry and location and know what makes a good candidate for you in terms of experience and skill set. This helps you find a good match (or several matches) right off the bat.
For part-time or temp jobs, the staffing service usually facilitates hiring and firing, and handling employment taxes and benefits, if those are offered. However, for some permanent placements, staffing services might help interview, background check, hire, and onboard the new employee.
A staffing agency that offers that service is especially valuable, given that new hires that have a structured on-boarding program are almost 60% more likely to stay with the company for a longer amount of time.
In many cases, you’ll simply need to tell them what you need, how long you need the worker for, and other pertinent information (salary, benefits, skill set, etc.) and the agency will take it from there.
What to Look For In a Good Staffing Service?
You want a staffing service that works in your industry, so they know the marketplace, trends, and what makes a candidate a good fit for you. And you want one that has a high level of success and a good reputation. Word of mouth referrals can be especially useful here.
Find out how the service finds and recruits their talent, and what screening or testing they have to undergo before being accepted into the firm’s pool of potential applicants. Don’t be afraid to visit a few different staffing agencies and ask all the questions you can about their process, services, and associated costs and fees.
Furthermore, they should have a good grasp on what kind of employee you need and who might best fit your office culture and bring the right skills to the table.
Reduce your hiring headaches when you employ a staffing service. Assembling the right team can make all the difference in the world.
