Understaffing occurs when you do not have enough team members to handle the workload for several months. This problem costs your company time, talent, opportunities, and revenue.
Chronic understaffing differs from temporary staffing shortages. For instance, temporary shortages have a defined cause and end. These shortages may occur when a number of your employees are absent due to illness, your team has a sudden increase in work orders and needs to work overtime, or roles remain vacant as you search for the right employees to fill them.
Conversely, chronic understaffing does not always have clearly defined causes and endpoints. As a result, you cannot predict when the issues will be resolved.
Chronic understaffing can result in your employees taking on more work than they realistically can handle. Having your employees consistently work beyond their limits increases their stress levels. Ongoing exposure to stress can lead to anxiety, depression, and burnout.
Burnt-out employees are less focused, engaged, and productive than employees who are not burnt out. As a result, burnt-out employees tend to find jobs with other employers. This issue further impacts your problem with understaffing.
As a result, you should prioritize hiring top talent to resolve your staffing issue. These suggestions can help.
Implement these tips to find top talent and resolve your issue with understaffing.
Determine Your Staffing Needs
Focus on which job duties and tasks are essential. Determine how much of them your current employees realistically can handle each day.
Talk with your employees about their current workloads. You want them to be engaged and productive but not overburdened.
Use your findings to uncover where your staffing shortages are. Then, create a plan to fill them.
Consider Flexible Staffing Arrangements
Adding temporary workers to your team can help with your understaffing issues. You can bring aboard experienced agricultural workers for as long as needed. Then, these workers can move on to other assignments when your team’s workload becomes manageable. You pay only for the services used.
Work with a Staffing Partner
Partner with a staffing agency that specializes in agricultural workers. The agency can provide an experienced recruiter who works to understand your company’s culture, the job duties and responsibilities, your performance expectations, and other requirements. Then, the recruiter can match you with workers who fit what you are looking for.
Get Help Finding Top Talent
Partner with Morris Bixby Group for help finding top talent. Reach out today.