GETTING BACK TO WORK

BUSINESS Getting Back to Work

STAFFING AGENCIES EMBRACE A CHANGING JOB MARKET

There’s not enough workers and every business is short staffed. We could debate the reason behind the labor shortage for days but it doesn’t change the outcome— businesses across the globe including in San Joaquin County simply don’t have enough employees to operate optimally. The question is, what can be done?

Partially inspired by the pandemic, attitudes toward work have changed. Many workers moved to remote offices amid office shutdowns while others quit to care for their kids. It’s also been argued that there simply aren’t enough people to fill jobs anymore with a general population decline both locally and across the globe, which likely has several contributing factors.

Tena Runyon, Vice President of Hedy Holmes Staffing Services, an agency with offices in San Joaquin County that offers positions in light industrial, manufacturing, agriculture, supply chain, and more, says we are in an evolutionary stage when it comes to work and career. Many people have a different attitude toward work, which may include more interest in coming and going from jobs as they please. “People tend to be less committal,” Tena says.

That shift directly supports the business of staffing agencies, who bring in workers and place them at clients as they see fit. The client benefits from a large candidate pool (that has already been vetted by the agency) and the employees have more options for jobs without going through multiple interview processes. As needs change, there is less commitment on both sides so people can move fluidly with a staffing agency doing the bulk of the work.

Staffing agencies also tend to handle a lot of the negotiations between employers and employees including wage structures and hours, using market data and independent research to help both sides understand industry trends. Essentially, workers and employers have someone working for them to fight for fair wages, better hours, etc.

With temporary jobs, the desire to work seasonally or work for short periods is possible. So, it’s a “try before you buy” strategy for both sides, allowing employees and employers to find the best fit. “It’s kind of like testdriving cars,” says Michael Freeman, also with Hedy Holmes. “They get to test drive these positions and if something doesn’t work, we get to reassign them.”

BY NORA HESTON TARTE

HEDY HOLMES STAFFING SERVICES

(209) 957-9630 HedyHolmesStaffing.com