Increasing Staffing Capacity During the Pre-Christmas Period
Entrepreneurs often find themselves in situations where they need to quickly strengthen their team. The reasons vary – most often it’s a short-term increase in orders, the launch of new projects, or a higher rate of employee absences. This is typical, for example, during summer holidays or flu seasons in spring and autumn. In all these cases, increasing staffing capacity through a recruitment agency makes perfect sense. The main advantage for companies is the ability to obtain suitable employees without lengthy selection processes. This ensures that a company has the workforce it needs exactly when it needs it. For retailers, transport and logistics companies, the pre-Christmas season is especially demanding, as the demand for labor significantly increases.
The Pre-Christmas Season as an Annual Test of Company Flexibility
Christmas is traditionally the main holiday season of the year, which brings a sharp increase in orders for businesses. Most companies cannot handle this period without strengthening their workforce. Temporary employees find work in warehouses, customer service centers, transport and logistics — as drivers, couriers, and warehouse operators. At the same time, the need for additional staff affects production as well. The pre-Christmas period is a test of preparedness and organization. If a customer receives their ordered gift after Christmas Eve or in poor condition, the company risks losing their trust. Proper planning and timely staffing increases are therefore key to maintaining a good reputation.
How to Plan a Staffing Increase in Advance
Customer trust takes time to build but can be lost quickly. To maintain a good reputation, companies must plan ahead — including when it comes to staffing capacity. Although recruitment agencies can provide workers very quickly, they still need time to prepare and select the right candidates. The entire process can be divided into three main pillars: proper timing, well-thought-out planning, and alignment with operations.
When to Start Preparing – Why Timing Is Key
The pre-Christmas rush doesn’t begin in December — the first increase in demand appears already in autumn, when companies start restocking warehouses and strengthening logistics. Those who want to handle the workload without chaos should plan ahead, ideally already by the end of summer. In autumn, demand for employees generally rises, while many companies also face absenteeism due to seasonal illnesses. With timely planning, these factors can be balanced more effectively, ensuring sufficient workforce in advance.
How to Plan Staffing Increases in Detail
Having a plan is not enough — it must also be developed in detail. Every company operates differently, so planning should be based on real data. Experience from previous years helps identify which areas are usually under the most pressure and where delays occur. Shift scheduling and the training of new workers play a crucial role. Short, practical training sessions are often more effective than long presentations. New employees adapt faster and integrate more easily into the team. Preparation should also involve the operations manager, who can best estimate how many workers are needed and how to distribute them efficiently.
How to Align Planning with Operations to Avoid Chaos
Planning without proper connection to day-to-day operations will never work. Situations in production and logistics change daily, which is why shift leaders and line managers should be involved in planning from the very beginning. They know best where workloads are increasing and where downtime occurs. This makes it possible to respond flexibly to changes and maintain a smooth flow of production, logistics, and dispatch. Increasing staffing capacity plays a key role here, allowing reinforcements to be moved according to current needs. When communication between management, HR, and operations is open, workers are deployed exactly where they are needed most. This keeps operations stable even during peak demand. A well-coordinated system brings less stress, higher efficiency, and satisfied customers.
