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Understanding Short-Term and Long-Term Staffing
Understanding Short-Term and Long-Term Staffing
Updated over a month ago

When it comes to temporary staffing, Instawork offers a wide range of solutions, from last-minute PTO coverage to long-term help. We’ve grouped these solutions into two groups—Short-Term and Long-Term staffing. Understanding the nuances of each can help ensure you make the most effective decision for your needs. This article breaks down the key differences between Short-Term and Long-Term staffing, and provides criteria to help you decide which best suits your business.

Short-term staffing

Short-term staffing is designed for businesses that need to fill positions ranging from a single shift to multiple shifts over several weeks, depending on the industry and specific requirements.

Key features:

  • Flexibility: Enables you to scale your workforce up or down based on immediate need.

  • Quick turnaround: Ideal for situations requiring urgent staffing, such as sudden employee absences or unexpected increases in workload.

  • Minimal duration: There are no obligations beyond the shift, allowing businesses to remain agile.

Common use cases include:

  • Seasonal staffing, such as holiday seasons for retail businesses

  • One-off projects that require additional people

  • Temporary cover for employees on leave

Long-Term Staffing

Long-term staffing is better suited for businesses looking for consistent and committed staffing solutions over multiple days, weeks, or even months.

Key features:

  • Consistency: Connects you with the same Pros across all your shifts

  • Additional screening: Includes an extra layer of assessment to match the right candidates with the specific needs of the business.

  • Longer duration: Best for shifts spanning two to eight weeks to ensure consistency for both you and the Pros over a longer-term relationship.

  • Pro flexibility: Because Pros commit to your business for a longer period, they can call in sick or request a day off without any penalties, such as automatically being removed from your shifts.

Common use cases include:

  • Launching new units or facilities that require experienced and reliable staff

  • Roles that involve extensive training or security clearances

  • Projects needing specialized skills over an extended period

Considerations when choosing between Short-Term and Long-Term Staffing

When deciding which staffing solution is best for your business, you should think about the following:

Short-Term Staffing

Long-Term Staffing

Duration

Best for a temporary staffing need, such as shifts that last from a day to a few weeks.

Best for a longer-term staffing need, from several weeks or months, although Long-Term Shifts can also be used for shorter periods, especially if the role is complex or requires extensive training.

Importance of consistent workers

You can request to have the same Pro(s) for your short-term shifts, but they may not always be available. So ideally, having a variety of Pros rotating through your shifts has a minimal impact on your operations.

Note, you could also request Pros from your Roster as a way to get consistent Pros on Short-Term Staffing shifts.

The goal of Long-term Staffing is to help you achieve the long-term retention of any given Pro. This option ensures the same Pro(s) can come for the duration of your shift, whether that’s a few days, weeks or months. This is crucial if changing Pros would disrupt your operations or significantly reduce productivity.

Complexity of role and training requirements

Ideal for roles that require little to no on-the-job training.

Ideal for roles that involve extensive training, significant onboarding, or specialized skills.

Lead time

Short-Term Staffing can support finding Pros with either a short or long lead time.

Long-Term Staffing needs a longer lead time in order to find consistent Pros for the duration of the shift.

Conclusion

Choosing between short-term and long-term staffing depends on your specific business needs and operational goals. By evaluating the criteria listed above, you can make a more informed decision that will help you maintain efficiency, productivity, and overall business performance.

If you have further questions or need personalized advice, feel free to reach out to our support team.

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