Though most people have reason to look forward to the holiday season, managers often find themselves especially busy during this period. After working hard all year, your staff deserves a well-earned break. Unlike many other businesses, however, most healthcare facilities can’t just shut down for the day, let alone for an entire week. In fact, with flu season in full swing, the winter holidays are often the busiest time of year. Could a healthcare staffing agency help you during the holiday crunch?

Consider your staffing needs

Adding staff during the holiday season is the smart way to solve your staffing problems. The question, therefore, is what type of staff to bring in. Fortunately, there are multiple options available to you.

Per-diem staff

Adding per-diem workers to your payroll is the most flexible solution. If you have many workers who just want a few days off during the holidays, per-diem staff can help fill in the gaps so all shifts are covered. In addition, many per-diem healthcare workers are willing to float between units, meaning a single employee will be able to fill multiple roles. Since it’s estimated that over 100 million Americans travel during the winter holiday season, there should be plenty of shifts for per-diem workers to cover.

Contract and temporary employees

Contract employees, such as travel nurses, are another great solution to holiday staffing needs. Whether because of holidays or other issues, you may have noticed certain times of the year when your facility needs extra help. Experienced travelers are valuable assets in these times. Consider hiring a traveler when you have a specific position to fill for several months.

Planning ahead for the holiday season

Examining your payroll records should give you a relatively accurate idea of when your employees will request time off. Guessing, however, can only take you so far. Rather than relying on your best estimate, start talking to your employees about their holiday and vacation plans several months before. Though you still may not be able to meet every request for time off, you’ll gain a more accurate picture of what to expect.

To make sure all of your staffing needs are met, start talking to an experienced staffing agency now. At Georgia Medical Staffing, we offer a full range of staffing solutions that are guaranteed to meet your facility’s nursing needs. Contact us today to learn more about our services.

Original article from https://www.qmstaffing.com/2020/12/23/need-use-staffing-agency-holiday-months/