As we near the second quarter, we know a few things are certain: spring flowers and showers will be headed our way. Beyond that, certainties are hard to come by, especially in the dynamic world of staffing. While there’s no crystal ball available, a few trends stand out as signposts for the months ahead. Being aware of them can help your business remain competitive and nimble. What are the key points? Let’s explore them.
- Flexibility Is the Foundation of Employee Satisfaction
It’s no secret that working from home – at least one day a week – was well on its way to becoming a popular option before the pandemic made it necessary. Now, with many employees across industries fully ensconced in this flexibility, it pays for employers to remain open to hybrid work arrangements.
This can mean allowing team members to work remotely a few days a week, offering both on-site and remote roles, or creating opportunities for team members to plan their schedules in a way that allows them to meet both professional and personal needs. A recent study by Mental Health America uncovered that remote and flexible work schedules help lessen work-related stress by reducing or eliminating time-consuming and hectic commutes, frequent interruptions, and office politics.
Providing hybrid work options keep current team members happy and can attract and retain a wider pool of job candidates. A prime example is the 94% of Gen-Z and 84% of Millennials that, according to an Indeed survey, say they would not take a position that required them to work at an onsite location full time. Additionally, 88% of Gen-Z and 69% of Millennials would leave their current job if they were required to report in-person full-time. This is a clear indication that attracting younger talent necessitates a flexible approach.
- Data Drives Innovation
If the real estate motto is “location, location, location,” then the staffing credo is well on its way to becoming “data, data, data.” The strongest and fastest-growing players in the staffing industry are quickly adopting the ongoing ability to access and apply quantifiable information to propel decisions.
To remain competitive, smart staffing companies are embracing data and technology in all areas of their daily operations. The shift is increasing as many staffing businesses use applicant tracking systems (ATS) and other software to manage their recruitment processes. Optimizing these processes benefits both your recruiting efforts and the candidate experience. Speed and ease of use keep both sides happy and productive.
Integrating technologies simplifies labor-intensive HR tasks and streamlines processes for hiring, onboarding, time labor management, payroll, and billing. This strategy also gives staffing firms a much-needed competitive edge.
While data and technology are powerful and beneficial, it is important to complement them through additional means, such as fostering open dialogues with clients and team members to successfully address any key issues.
- Corporate Reputation Influences Job Seekers
It’s a simple fact your company’s reputation is no secret these days. More than ever, people in the job market actively research organizations before applying for an open position. In fact, Glassdoor found that about 86% of job seekers perform comprehensive searches regarding brand and reputation.
Offering a higher salary than your competitors does not always sway job seekers to work for your agency. For example, 75% of U. S. applicants will not apply for a job at a company with a bad reputation in the market. With that in mind, it’s clear that working on brand management and reputation is important not only for your company as a whole but also for your ability to recruit talent successfully.
It’s an accepted fact that the recruitment landscape is fluid, and staying ahead of the curve is essential. That’s why it’s important to be mindful of any gaps you notice regarding your organization’s approach to the latest trends in flexibility, data, and recruiting.
If you find yourself coming up short or struggling in any of these areas, consider partnering with a staffing-focused solutions provider, such as Vensure Staffing Alliance (VSA). At VSA, we provide specialized services and consulting for the staffing industry, including payroll, workers’ compensation, HR consulting and compliance, employee benefits administration, back-office solutions, and RPO.
