The agriculture industry is unique. Seasonal variations in demand make planning essential.  Without a realistic assessment of the number of employees and the skills required to keep up, your resources can be stretched too thin. When demand peaks, so does the amount of stress on your staff.

Additionally, many organizations and companies depend on the technical knowledge of a few key employees. Retaining core staff and their expertise over multiple years is difficult. Therefore, succession planning should form part of a planning strategy. How can a company with such a complex seasonal workload develop a strategic planning strategy?

• Management should anticipate and address seasonal demand. Strategic staffing can ensure that you have adequate human resources in place before you need them. Solicit feedback from veteran staff to identify ways that work processes and productivity that can be improved and where additional staff could be added.
• Invest in staff and focus on succession planning. Identify skilled employees who should be trained to fill senior positions. Institutional knowledge is valuable; don’t lose it when key employees leave. Staff development also improves your reputation as an employer, and will help to attract new talented employees if your staffing strategy is effectively marketed.
• Strategic staffing is complicated enough. With seasonal ebbs and flows, outsourcing hiring processes can alleviate a staffing burden. Effective sourcing, background checking, and other best practices can be easily outsourced to staffing professionals. Many firms, such as Morris Bixby Group, offer consulting services with professionals who monitor the industry and labor environment, and help you create an effective staffing strategy.

A strategic staffing strategy should change depending on the economic environment. Currently, the labor market is entering a competitive phase. Partner with Morris Bixby Group and plan your staffing to ensure the workforce that will maintain or increase your productivity in the coming year.