November is here and that means the holiday shopping season is just getting into full swing. Over the next two months, millions of shoppers across the U.S. will head to stores in search of the perfect gifts for friends, neighbors and loved ones. On Black Friday alone, billions of dollars will be spent on everything from clothes to electronics. In fact, last year, shoppers spent $4.45 billion on Thanksgiving day and Black Friday, according to Fortune Magazine.
With all of this economic movement on its way, retail businesses are beginning to hire on seasonal labor to help out with the extra work. Unlike year-round employees, seasonal workers may not receive the same level of training – and they may be less committed to the company culture. Here are few tips to keep in mind when hiring a seasonal labor force:
1. Remember that taxes still apply
According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, seasonal employees are taxed the same as year-round employees. For your tax reporting responsibilities, please refer to the Internal Revenue Service’s Publication 15, Circular E. Also note that seasonal workers typically do not count toward ACA compliance. Only workers who are employed for over 120 days a year count toward the overall number of a company’s full-time equivalent workers.
Many retailers across the U.S. will need to hire on seasonal workers.
2. Perform drug and background testing
Even though these employees will only be working for your company a short time, it’s still important to perform drug and background assessments to avoid problems in the workplace. It’s a simple way to ensure that your holiday business plans move along smoothly. With Global HR Research, you can quickly and efficiently screen candidates before hiring. In addition to reducing risks to safety, screening can lower employee turnover, so you can focus on running your business.
3. Develop an interview structure
At this time of the year, many seasonal jobs are customer facing, and that means dealing with the occasional angry customer. Therefore, it’s a good idea to structure your interviews with this in mind, noted American Express. Ask pointed questions about how candidates might deal with a distraught customer. This type of information is highly valuable when making a hiring decision. For even more detailed answers, you might consider using a personality assessment. Additionally, focus your employee search on candidates who already have experience in your industry. You might not have time to train these employees as much as you’d like. Having a background in your industry means new hires will catch on quickly and won’t need as much guidance.
Things are about to get very busy for the retail world and vendors that serve the industry. Hiring seasonal labor is just one of many tasks that needs to be completed before the holiday rush. Save your company time and money by interviewing the smart way. Using diagnostic tests along with a well-structured interview will ensure that you make the right hiring decisions.
