© 2010 Robert Half Management Resources. An Equal Opportunity Employer. Cost-Effective Staffing for Unprecedented Times

A Delicate Balance How many of you: –Feel your team is adequately staffed? Understaffed? –Have been asked to reduce spending or personnel costs? –Are worried about layoffs or have had to lay off staff?

The Last Recession Before the last recession, many firms overhired When the Internet bubble burst, they laid off staff Some firms felt laying off full-time workers was the only way to reduce human resources costs

Personnel Reductions Risk of pruning too deeply Cuts could limit the ability to meet changing demands You could be short staffed if economic conditions suddenly improve Flexibility is key

Evaluating Your Team’s Workload Think of current and future projects Identify workload trends Ask yourself: Peaks? Patterns? Predictable? Chart the results

Evaluating Your Team’s Workload

Can You Reprioritize Projects? Focus your team’s efforts on tasks that: –Grow revenues –Increase efficiency –Reduce expense –Meet other company priorities

Are Your Staff Being Utilized to Their Potential? Match staff members with assignments that best suit their talents –Think outside the traditional job description Consider offering targeted training

Can Some Employees Take on More Responsibility? Now is the time to identify future leaders

Take care to not overburden your most valuable players Can Some Employees Take on More Responsibility?

Do Targeted Full-Time Hires Make Sense? You cannot manage every shortfall by redeploying your existing team The most effective way to meet needs may be to add full-time workers Look at how the position has changed before making a new hire You cannot manage every shortfall by redeploying your existing team The most effective way to meet needs may be to add full-time workers Look at how the position has changed before hiring

The Benefits of Flexible Staffing The best approach is a blend Full-time staff Interim professionals Increase your staffing flexibility

The Benefits of Flexible Staffing Temporary employees have highly specific skills A property management firm completed a reconciliation project ahead of schedule and under budget because they used an interim professional with strong knowledge of Excel

The Benefits of Flexible Staffing Help protect the jobs of full-time employees Reduce burnout among your team

The Benefits of Flexible Staffing Contingent workers are saving companies a significant amount of money -- typically 17 percent of their total expense base* * Source: Contingent Workforce Strategies magazine

The Benefits of Flexible Staffing Complete projects on time without overtime costs –Overtime costs can run more than a full-time salary –A financial services company saved $6,000 in overtime costs by using flexible staffing

The Best Use of Temporary Resources Define situations in which interim workers can add the most value Interim professionals can: –Address immediate and long-term needs –Fill in during vacations and absences –Keep productivity high while you search for a full-time hire –Be evaluated for full-time roles when conditions improve

How to Find Skilled Professionals A reputable, experienced firm can help you: Save time Prevent losses Identify needs

How to Find Skilled Professionals Locate talent Avoid mistakes A reputable, experienced firm can help you: Save time Prevent losses Identify needs

Dollars and Sense Cost, as a percent of the person’s salary, to replace a full-time employee, if handled internally:

The Value of Specialization Specialized staffing firms –Are experts in your field –Have networks that give them access to the best job candidates

Selecting the Right Staffing Firm Solicit recommendations

Narrow the list of contenders Selecting the Right Staffing Firm

Develop interview questions Selecting the Right Staffing Firm

Evaluate: Experience Selection process Internal staff Quality control

Selecting the Right Staffing Firm Watch out for: –Charging applicants –Unwillingness to explain procedures –Vagueness about fees –A troubling track record

The Overall Cost Matters Most It’s not the hourly rate that matters most but the overall cost of the project

Highly skilled candidates will finish the job more quickly and with greater accuracy The Overall Cost Matters Most

It’s almost always most cost-effective to use experienced specialists The Overall Cost Matters Most

Example: A small company hired a higher-level temporary who finished a three-week project in just one! The Overall Cost Matters Most

Warning Signs You’re Understaffed Low employee morale Excessive overtime Increased absenteeism Repeatedly missed deadlines Decline in quality of work

© 2010 Robert Half Management Resources. An Equal Opportunity Employer. rhmr.com Cost-Effective Staffing for Unprecedented Times