Fall is often one of the busiest seasons in Canada for a variety of industries. If you have warehouse operations, you may have already noticed an increase in the number of orders and shipments being processed. This is often just the start as operations ramp up for the busy holiday season.
While an increase in the volume of orders and shipments is great for business, it can also mean your warehouse workers can’t keep up. If you notice any of the following four signs in your warehousing operations, you’ll know it’s time to hire some more warehouse workers.
1. You Can’t Keep Up with Demand
The best indication you need to hire more help around the warehouse is demand outstripping what your workforce is capable of handling. The number of orders and shipments increases so much, you simply can’t keep up. Every day, there are still unfilled orders or shipments that need to be processed.
By expanding your workforce, you can process these additional demands with ease. If you’re ordering more supplies, you may need more hands in shipping and receiving. If your teams are having a hard time getting orders filled, it’s probably time to hire on more workers.
Keep in mind you don’t need to hire this additional help permanently. Contract and temporary positions are excellent ways to help your warehouse meet demands during one of the busiest times of the year.
2. You’re Scheduling Overtime on a Regular Basis
Are your workers regularly coming in for extra shifts, overtime, or extra hours? If so, it might be time to make a few strategic hires.
Overtime may seem like the solution to your problem since the additional shifts and hours can help you work through more orders and shipments in the warehouse. Unfortunately, it’s not always the most cost-effective solution.
Instead, consider hiring temporary workers to alleviate some of the overtime stress on both your workers and your finances.
3. Your Team is Stressed and Overworked
In addition to falling productivity, you might notice that your workforce is overworked. They keep calling in or not showing up for shifts. Some refuse overtime hours. Others may even decide to leave the company.
You might not connect this behaviour to the fact you need more warehouse workers, but it’s a symptom of your team being understaffed. Since they can’t keep up no matter how hard they work, they’re beginning to feel strained.
Give them a hand by hiring extra workers. This will make sure they still get downtime, while helping you push productivity levels to where they need to be.
4. You’re Missing Deadlines
Do you have a rush shipment you need to get out the door? Did you miss a shipping deadline, and now you’re scrambling to get an order where it needs to go?
This might be a sign you need some more warehouse workers on your team. If you find yourself routinely missing your shipping deadlines, the additional help could be the answer. It also helps stop the cycle of rushing everything, which can cost you additional money, or add up to lost productivity and revenue.
How Can You Find More Workers?
You’re already busy, so you don’t have much time to devote to hiring and training your new warehouse workers. What can you do?
A smart move is to team up with a staffing agency like Liberty Staffing. We’ll help you find the right candidates for your warehouse, and get them started with you as soon as possible. You’ll get the people you need, when you need them. Contact us today to get started.
