Shift workers or a permanent hire?

Every venue owner faces this question: do I ask for someone just for this rush, or hire someone who stays?

The answer isn’t the same for every venue. This guide gives you a quick way to decide.

1 The short answer

If the need is for a set time, like a rush, a call-off, a particular day or a season, a shift is usually enough. If the need is most days of the week, or you need someone who knows your venue and stays with you, that’s an ongoing role, and it needs a full-time or part-time employee.

2 When a shift fits

• A rush you can predict. The weekend, or the lunch and dinner hours.
• A sudden call-off. Someone on your team isn’t coming in today.
• An unusual day. An opening, a promotion, a stocktake, or an event.
• A season. Ramadan, the Eid holidays, or the sales season.

In these cases you post a shift with the role, the time, the pay and the number of workers, choose from the applicants, and there’s no commitment afterwards.

If the rush is the reason: Getting ready for rush hours

3 When you need a permanent employee

• The same need most days. If you’re asking for the same shift almost every day, that’s an ongoing role. A rush that comes two days a week, though, is better covered by shifts posted each week.
• The role needs to know your venue. Like whoever runs the till every day, or receives deliveries, and has to know your system.
• You need someone to rely on. A supervisor, or someone who carries the whole shift with you.

This is a full-time or part-time hire. The Saiiy team no longer does that hiring for venues, but shifts can cover the rush until you find the right person.

4 Or do both

Many venues have a permanent team for ordinary days, and add shift workers in the rush. That’s no contradiction: the permanent team carries the base, and shifts carry the extra.

If you’re not sure, message the Saiiy team about what you need, and the team will tell you which way fits.

What to write in the message: How to prepare a staffing request for your venue