Flexible Staffing: An Effective Business Tactic For An Unstable Economy

Coople has put together a guide for businesses, laying out the current economic landscape and describing how tactics such as flexible staffing might be able to help lessen the strain.

The UK economy right now

Inflation is still above the 2% target and has been since May 2021. Many businesses are affected by the resulting high costs of materials, products and services they rely on, and fuel for heating their physical premises, whether that’s an office or a storefront. A recent survey found that 77% of businesses said they had been forced to increase their prices to cope with the cost of energy.

Responsive staffing

While times are turbulent, businesses who require additional support might be reluctant to commit to new full time hires, especially if they think they may need to make lay offs in the near future. Taking on flexible, temporary staff is a way around this, as they can support as required. In the event of increased demand, businesses can avoid rushing into a hire who might be a bad fit with the help of flexible staff who can join the team while hiring managers search for a permanent member of staff - and who knows, the temporary employee who joins them might turn out to be perfect for the role!

Productivity and morale

The NHS identifies “a lack of control of our workload” and “high demands on our time and energy and lack of clarity about responsibilities” as two major causes of work-related stress. This is on top of ongoing strain that many workers are experiencing as part of the cost of living crisis, which has driven up private rent and costs such groceries and fuel.

Businesses can help protect their staff from these pressures by taking on flexible staff for temporary periods when the workload increases beyond manageable levels. Team well-being is extremely important for morale as well as productivity.

What a responsive staffing solution provides

Only charges for completed shifts.

Provide the company with access to a large pool of fully vetted workers.

Handle complex shift requirements on demand.

Allow the company to agree on work contracts in a fair, efficient and frictionless way, even at short notice.

Allow the company to choose who they hire and offer full financial transparency.

Allow the company to build a pool of favourite workers who are accessible on demand.

If companies can weather the current situation, they can thrive, continuing to serve their customers and building their resilience and longevity. Flexible staffing is just one way that companies can be agile and adaptable in the face of tough times.

Another way businesses can stay adaptable is by being keenly aware of current levels of customer and employee satisfaction - as well as by responding to this to overcome any problems.

Being transparent about the company’s current goals across departments and maintaining good communication will also help teams pull together to combat any issues that threaten the business