A Flexible Solution for Employers and Employees
As the festive season approaches, businesses and job seekers alike turn to temporary employment to meet the demands of the holiday rush. Whether you’re looking to hire additional staff or seeking a flexible job opportunity, seasonal roles provide a unique solution for both employers and employees.
For businesses, temporary hiring is a strategic way to address the seasonal surge and manage increased demand. For employees, these roles offer a chance to earn extra income, gain valuable experience, or secure work during school or university breaks.
At Miller Leith, we specialise in connecting companies with exceptional temporary talent for the holiday season. With our extensive candidate network and industry expertise, we’ll help you find the right fit, ensuring a smooth and successful hiring process.
In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about temporary employment—whether you’re a candidate aiming to land a seasonal position, an immediately available job seeker in between work, or an employer in need of extra hands during the busy festive period.
Understanding Temporary Employment Contracts
Temporary employment operates under different regulations compared to permanent roles. Understanding these differences ensures that both parties enjoy a positive and compliant working relationship.
Temporary employment is characterised by its flexibility, but it comes with specific terms and conditions:
Low or zero-hour, flexible contracts
Unlike permanent roles, casual employment doesn’t guarantee a fixed number of working hours each week. Employers can schedule workers based on operational needs, making it ideal for managing fluctuating demand based on trends from previous years.
Flexible working
For some, the lack of guaranteed hours can be disparaging, however for others, it’s this flexibility that makes casual work more accessible and convenient than a fixed-hour contract. Employers can adapt staffing levels as needed, while employees can choose shifts that align with their availability and responsibilities outside of work.
Higher base rates
Casual workers are typically compensated with higher hourly rates compared to permanent staff, with the extra income classed as “casual loading”. For employees, this casual loading offsets the lack of benefits such as sick leave and annual leave that permanent staff receive.
Fair working conditions
Despite their casual nature, casual employees are entitled to the same fair treatment and casual worker employment rights as permanent team members. This includes workplace safety, breaks, and protection from discrimination. Employers must comply with relevant labour laws to ensure equity for all staff.
What are the Benefits of Temporary Employment During the Festive Season?
For Employers
Employers can adapt schedules and staffing levels to meet sometimes unpredictable demand. With more customers during the festive period, temporary employees are instrumental in maintaining service levels and ensuring a positive customer experience. Along with this, seasonal hires often bring renewed energy and excitement to the workplace. This can provide a much-needed boost to team morale during the hectic Christmas period.
Christmas temporary roles also allow employers to identify potential long-term talent, as temporary staff that perform well may be able to transition into permanent positions after the season has ended.
For Employees
Temporary contracts suit those seeking work that accommodates their other commitments, including students or individuals with free time over the summer. For those with limited experience, temporary jobs provide an entry point into the workforce, which can be beneficial when applying for longer-term roles in the future. Higher base pay, along with penalty rates for weekends and public holidays, are other benefits, making temporary employment financially rewarding.
Things to Know About Temporary Christmas Employment
For Employers
When thinking about the process of hiring a temporary employee, there are a number of considerations. Clear communication about the casual nature of temporary contracts is essential to avoid misunderstandings or unrealistic expectations. Transparency ensures that both parties are aligned from the outset. The hiring process should also be as efficient as possible, with streamlined interviews and onboarding to secure top talent quickly before the festive season begins. Click here to read about how to implement a strong Employee Value Proposition to appeal to top talent.
Legal compliance is another critical area, as failing to adhere to employment laws can result in penalties, back payments, and reputational damage to the business. Staying informed about these regulations is non-negotiable. The team at Miller Leith manages weekly payments of our temporary candidates, meaning employers can easily stay on top of hours and invoices. Learn more about our Temporary and Contract offering.
Finally, employers should focus on developing a well-organised onboarding process. By prioritising essential training upfront and allowing temporary employees to pick up additional skills on the job, businesses can maximise productivity during this busy period while setting their teams up for success.
For Job Seekers and Employees
For temporary employees, a seasonal role can occasionally serve as a pathway to permanent employment. Performing well and making a strong impression can open doors to future opportunities. However, it’s important to understand the limitations of temporary work. These roles do not come with entitlements like sick or annual leave, and also don’t require termination notice, so employees must be prepared for the casual nature of their work.
The festive season can also bring a fast-paced and demanding work environment, making adaptability and resilience crucial skills. Some advantages also include receiving Christmas temporary pay rates, including weekends, public holidays, and Christmas penalty rates, which, for some, counter-balance the lack of guaranteed hours, and make the work financially rewarding.
Seeking Seasonal Employment or Employees
For Employers
Employers looking to make the most of seasonal hiring should begin recruiting well ahead of the holiday season to access the widest and most qualified talent pool.
If you’ve left your Christmas temporary hiring to the last minute, Miller Leith has a deep, experienced talent pool of casual workers ready to support you through this busy season. To attract such talent, highlight the benefits of temporary roles – emphasising perks like flexible hours, competitive pay, and the potential for future career opportunities.
Hiring strategically is also crucial; focus on candidates who demonstrate the ability to adapt quickly and excel in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment. To reach more potential talent, advertise roles through various channels, including job boards, recruitment agencies, and social media platforms, ensuring you reach a diverse range of applicants.
For Job Seekers and Employees
Leveraging your personal network can lead to unexpected opportunities, so let friends, family, and acquaintances know you’re looking for work. Make sure to polish up your resume and cover letter and keep on hand to seize any spontaneous opportunities you come across. You can also stay up to date with the latest temporary and contracting roles by subscribing to Miller Leith job alerts.
After the Christmas Season
For Employers
Handling the end of seasonal contracts with professionalism is essential to maintaining a positive impression with the team members and their close personal network. Transparent transitions ensure that temporary employees leave on good terms, reinforcing your reputation as an employer and opening the door for future opportunities with standout performers.
Conducting exit interviews is also a valuable step in this process, as it allows you to gather honest feedback from temporary staff about their experiences. These insights can highlight areas for improvement in hiring, onboarding, or workplace processes. By applying this feedback, businesses can continuously refine their strategies, ensuring an even more effective approach when the next festive season comes around.
For Job Seekers and Employees
For employees, it’s important to recognise that these roles are temporary and may conclude once the festive season ends. If you’re interested in pursuing a permanent position, keep communication open with your employer and express your interest before your contract ends.
Additionally, don’t forget to request a reference while your performance is still fresh in your employer’s mind. A strong reference can be invaluable for future job applications.
Lastly, maintain relationships with colleagues and supervisors even after your time working with them has come to an end – staying in touch can lead to potential opportunities down the line and keep you in mind for future seasonal or permanent positions.
Finding the Right Role with Miller Leith
Temporary employment during the festive season is a win-win for both parties when approached with clarity and preparation. At Miller Leith, we specialise in connecting job seekers with opportunities and helping businesses find the talent they need. Whether you’re navigating temporary employment or planning for future growth, our team is here to guide you.
For job-seekers, our contracting team is here to assist in finding your next role, otherwise, you can register with Miller Leith to stay up to date on the latest openings. Employers can speak with our temporary and contract recruitment experts about finding the right fit for their team.
For more information, or to begin preparing for the Christmas temporary season, get in touch with the Miller Leith team today.