It feels like just yesterday we were enjoying the summer sun, but the festive season is fast approaching ... well let’s face it, you can’t really fail to miss it when you are constantly being bombarded with those ends of your “Black Friday deal” messages! While Christmas is a joyful time for many, for small business owners, it can also bring unique challenges. Balancing increased customer demand with limited resources often means recruiting temporary staff but getting it wrong can be costly.
Hopefully you are already a long way down the line in gearing up for Christmas recruitment, but if not, take a moment to read about 10 mistakes to avoid ensuring your recruitment efforts deliver the support your business needs.
1. Using Outdated Job Descriptions
Think you can reuse last year’s seasonal job advert? Think again. Roles and expectations evolve, and outdated job descriptions might not attract the right people.
Take time to update your adverts with clear, current expectations. Highlight the specific skills or experience you’re looking for, whether it’s customer service expertise or efficiency with tills. By doing so, you’ll attract candidates who are better aligned with your needs.
2. Skipping Training for Temporary Staff
Training might feel like a waste of time for short-term hires, but undertrained staff can negatively impact your business. Even if they’re only with you for a few weeks, they represent your company and directly influence customer experiences.
Provide practical training on things like handling customer inquiries, resolving issues, and using key equipment. Remember, great customer service is the best Christmas gift your business can offer.
3. Waiting Too Long to Start Recruiting
The best time to hire for Christmas was yesterday. Waiting too long means rushing the process, which often leads to recruiting the wrong candidates. Start early to give yourself the best chance of finding top recruits before competitors do. And if you have left it too late this year, make sure you put an action in your diary to start the process much earlier next year.
4. Overlooking Legal Requirements
Temporary doesn’t mean ‘exempt’. Employment laws apply to all hires, no matter how brief their stay. Ensure your contracts, payroll processes, and working hours comply with UK employment law to avoid any potential penalties or employment law disputes.
5. Neglecting Admin Essentials
Recruiting staff is about more than just signing a contract. Have you confirmed payroll setups? Scheduled shifts? Allocated equipment like uniforms? Address these early to avoid last-minute scrambles that could disrupt operations.
6. Ignoring Employee Referrals
Your current employees know your business best, so why not ask if they know someone who would be a good fit for a Christmas role? Employee referrals often yield high-quality candidates, saving time and recruitment costs.
7. Assuming Staff Will Stay Through the Season
Temporary workers often juggle multiple opportunities. They may leave mid-season for better pay or longer-term prospects. Plan for this by having a backup pool of candidates or flexible strategies to fill gaps if someone exits unexpectedly.
8. Treating Temporary Staff as “Less Important”
Temporary staff are vital to your team, so treat them that way. Include them in team events, like your Christmas celebrations, and acknowledge their contributions. A little recognition can go a long way in boosting morale, embodying the spirit of gratitude, after all, isn’t that what this season is all about?
9. Skipping Post-Season Reviews
When the decorations come down, take time to review your seasonal recruitment process. What went well? What could improve? Gathering feedback from both temporary workers and your core team can set you up for smoother recruitment next year.
10. Trying to Do It All Yourself
Recruitment isn’t everyone’s forte, and that’s okay. If the process feels overwhelming, consider seeking external help. HR specialists (like us!), can guide you through compliance, recruitment, and onboarding, saving you time and stress.
What’s Next?
Christmas recruitment doesn’t have to be a headache. With the right preparation and focus, you can create a strong, temporary team to support your business through the holiday rush.
If you’re unsure where to start, or just want a little extra guidance, youcould always reach out to us. Call us today and make this Christmas your business’s best one yet!