Forget Traditional Part-Timers - Companies Are Now Using Flexible Workforce

Having trouble trying to hire part-time workers and realising they just don't cut it anymore? You're not alone. Companies across retail, F&B, events, hospitality, and logistics are ditching the traditional hiring model for something more agile. We're talking on-demand workers who can pick up shifts and complete tasks as needed.

This blended workforce is exploding, with companies rapidly integrating flexible staff to fill gaps and meet changing business demands. In retail alone, flexible workers now make up over 30% of staff. This trend is growing across industries as companies tap into the exploding on-demand workforce to drive greater productivity and efficiency. The 9-to-5 is fading, and the future is flexible.

What is the difference between flexible and traditional part-time workers?

The Flexibility Factor

With part-time workers, flexibility is the name of the game. Traditional part-time roles often have fixed schedules and strict work hours that employees must adhere to. But in today's fast-paced world, more companies are embracing a flexible workforce that gives part-timers greater autonomy over their schedules.

Flexible part-time workers can choose their shifts or hours, as long as they meet the required workload. They might opt for compressed workweeks with longer hours over fewer days, or staggered shifts that fit their personal needs. This level of flexibility empowers them to better juggle work with family, studies, or other commitments. This leads to an overall increase in productivity and employee morale.

The Benefits of Being Flexible

For employers, having a flexible contingent workforce can be a game-changer. It allows them to scale staffing up or down seamlessly based on demand, reducing overhead costs. And let's be real, who doesn't love saving some cash?

Offering flexible work arrangements is a powerful way to attract and retain top talent in today's competitive job market and can also benefit full-time employees. When companies have a pool of flexible part-time staff they can draw from, it reduces workload pressures on full-time staff. Full-time employees may also have more opportunities for time off when there are contingency workers who can fill in during their absence.

This kind of integrated flexible workforce model can improve work-life balance and reduce burnout for companies' core full-time staff. Job seekers are actively seeking out gigs with this perk.

Gaining Valuable Experience

While traditional part-time roles tend to be more narrowly defined, flexible jobs often expose workers to a wider variety of tasks and environments. For instance, temp workers can take on different assignments across multiple companies or projects, rapidly expanding their skills.

This diversity of experiences can be incredibly valuable, especially for those just starting their careers or looking to transition into a new field. It's like getting a crash course in different industries and roles before settling into something more permanent.

Autonomy and Choice

At the end of the day, one of the biggest draws of flexible work is the sense of autonomy and control it provides. Over 60% of gig workers cite being able to choose their own hours as a major reason for pursuing this path. They're not just punching a clock – they're the masters of their own schedules.

For many, that autonomy and work-life balance is worth far more than the perceived stability of a traditional part-time job with rigid hours. Companies would be wise to take note of this growing preference for flexibility in today's evolving workforce.

The Rise of Flexible Workforce Hiring for Blue-Collar Jobs

Embracing the Gig Economy

The traditional model of hiring blue-collar workers on fixed schedules is evolving rapidly. Companies across industries like retail, food & beverage, events, hospitality, and logistics are embracing the gig economy to build a flexible workforce.

This prompts employers to revamp their hiring strategies and use short-term, project-based talents. Offering flexible schedules, shift work, and on-demand staffing allows workers to choose their hours while giving companies access to a broader talent pool on an as-needed basis.

Unlocking New Talent Pools

Technology is enabling companies to access gig workers as an untapped source of talent. Accessing this pool of flexible talent expands companies' talent pools with diverse individuals from different backgrounds and experiences. Their varied skill sets and perspectives can provide useful insights and improve processes within organizations.

Balancing Flexibility and Business Needs

While flexibility is a key priority for today's workers, companies must strike a balance to meet operational demands. Proactive recruitment strategies like location-based talent sourcing through geofencing can engage local part-time workers within specific areas.

It is also proven through a survey that we conducted in 2022.

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We interviewed over 400 candidates with 81.7% of them indicating that location it the top factor they consider when it comes to flexible part-time work.

The Future is Flexible

As companies strive to build an agile workforce, integrating flexible blue-collar workers through the gig economy will likely become the norm. Providing scheduling flexibility balanced with business objectives allows employers to meet fluctuating labour demands cost-effectively.

At the same time, upskilling opportunities, remote work options and progressive workplace policies empower blue-collar workers. This shift creates an ecosystem where companies gain staffing flexibility while workers achieve their desired work-life balance and career growth.

Benefits of integrating flexible part-time workers in your hiring

Tap into a broader talent pool

As mentioned previously, flexible work gives your company access to a much wider pool of talent. This includes students, parents returning from leave, and those seeking initial experience - candidates who may not be able to commit to full-time schedules. According to a LinkedIn article, expanding your hiring criteria to include these flexible workers broadens your options beyond just traditional full-time employees.

Boost productivity and retention

Flexible workers focusing on menial work frees up full-time employees to focus on core processes that boost their productivity and morale. This leads to higher retention rates as full-time employees are happier and more engaged in meaningful work.

For example, according to the survey conducted by the Workforce Institute in 2021 and cited in a LinkedIn article, they found that ad-hoc work makes up around 40% of the average knowledge worker's time. The survey included over 2,000 knowledge workers across various industries.

Case in point, let's consider a warehouse supervisor at a supply chain company. Their core responsibilities would include overseeing warehouse operations, managing inventory levels, assigning work to warehouse employees, and analyzing productivity and efficiency metrics.

However, on a day-to-day basis, the supervisor deals with technical issues and performs other generic tasks like inventory management, packing, and tidying up the warehouse. This ad-hoc work can easily take up over a third of their time, reducing the hours available for their most important duties.

By integrating flexible part-time workers who can handle some of this ad-hoc work, the warehouse supervisor could potentially gain back 5-10 hours per week to focus on high-impact tasks. This increased focus on their core responsibilities, combined with reduced stress from handling fewer miscellaneous tasks, would likely boost their productivity and job satisfaction.

Operate with greater agility

A flexible workforce enables your company to scale operations up or down more nimbly by adjusting staffing levels to meet demand. You can achieve targets with fewer full-time employees by leveraging the increased effectiveness that comes from integrating part-timers. Their diverse skill sets also allow you to cross-train and assign varied tasks, developing a more versatile workforce long-term.

Foster diversity and inclusion

Flexible schedules accommodate the diverse needs of your workforce better - from childcare to continuing education. As an HR solutions provider notes, this inclusivity helps attract underrepresented groups like new parents to roles they may have otherwise bypassed due to rigid schedules. It creates an environment where people from all backgrounds can thrive.

Improve work-life balance

Having a contingency workforce enables the company to provide full-time employees with more focused roles and improved work-life balance. Full-time workers gain back time otherwise spent on miscellaneous tasks, boosting their productivity and satisfaction through increased time for priorities and less stress.

Challenges of integrating flexible part-time workers in your hiring

Aligning with Company Culture

Integrating flexible part-time workers into your company culture presents a unique set of challenges. Since they are not permanent employees, fostering a sense of belonging and inclusiveness can be difficult. According to Vbeyond, steps like awareness sessions, clear role communication, and team-building activities are crucial. This helps prepare existing staff and ensures a seamless blend with the flexible workforce.

Effective Communication

Clear and constant communication is vital when managing flexible staff. Vbeyond recommends designating a point of contact and ensuring regular check-ins. This helps part-timers feel valued and informed about important updates.

Onboarding and Training

One of the biggest concerns for most businesses is the need to retrain new gig workers every time they are deployed for the first time. The first step for businesses deploying blue-collared flexible part-time workers is to identify the role. As most of these blue-collared roles do not require extensive training to perform, the training process can be on the first day as on-the-job training.

It takes some time for workers to familiarise themselves with your business expectations and processes. Once they do, they are 70% more likely to apply for your gig, decreasing the need to retrain new workers. It is also advisable to allocate a person to manage these contingency workers for consistency.

Performance Tracking and Development

Managing workloads efficiently without overburdening anyone is a challenge when integrating flexible staff. Vbeyond suggests aligning workloads with skills and agreed scope for optimal productivity.

Furthermore, tracking performance and facilitating skills development requires structured processes due to part-timers' limited tenure and involvement. Goal-setting and reviews need to be tailored accordingly.

Finding the Right Fit

Flexibility works both ways for businesses and workers. As workers have the option to choose jobs and timing, they may leave the minute they find an option that fits them better for various reasons. Finding a consistent right fit could prove challenging.

This is where businesses are challenged to forge a conducive and positive relationship with their workers that can help build a sense of belonging.

Industries Embracing Flexible Part-Time Workers

Flexibility in the F&B industry

The food and beverage industry has seen a rise in flexible work arrangements to better manage fluctuating demand. Part-time and gig workers allow restaurants and cafes to scale up staffing during peak hours and periods while keeping costs low. Flexible schedules also help attract workers who need a work-life balance which works exceptionally well for the opening hours of most F&B establishments.

Flexible blue-collared part-time jobs in the F&B industry includes the following:

• Service Crew
• Waiter/Waitress
• Cashier
• Dishwasher
• Bartender
• Kitchen Assistant

Do you own an F&B business? Read more here on how casual workers can help your business!

Flexibility in the Retail industry

Retailers are embracing flexible work to cover seasonal demand spikes and last-minute staffing needs. Casual part-timers are a good fit for covering peak shopping periods like holidays and weekends. The scheduling flexibility also appeals to retail workers juggling other commitments.

Flexible blue-collared part-time jobs in the Retail industry includes the following:

• Retail Assistant
• Cashier
• Packer
• Ambassadors
• Flyer Distributor

Interested to know more about casual workers and how they can help your retail business? Read here!

Logistics Flexibility

Logistics companies are turning to flexible workers to handle fluctuations in order volumes and deliveries. Gig drivers and part-time loaders and unloaders provide the flexibility to scale up operations when needed. This on-demand model helps keep costs low and efficiency high.

During peak sales periods like your annual 11.11 sales, there is usually a temporary increase in demand for packers as well.

Some flexible roles deployed in the logistics industry:

• Warehouse Helper
• Picker & Packer
• Warehouse Assistant

Event Flexibility

The events industry relies heavily on flexible labor to staff various events and gigs. From conference staff to venue workers, most event jobs are part-time or project-based in nature. The scheduling flexibility of gig workers matches well with the irregularity of the events industry.

Here are some gig roles that can be used in the event industry:

• Flyer Distributor
• Event Helper
• Service Crew
• Venue Assistant
• Ushers

Hospitality Flexibility

Hotels and other hospitality businesses are embracing flexible labor to better handle seasonal changes in occupancy. Flexible part-timers and gig workers allow properties to scale staffing up for busy periods and scale back when demand is low. The scheduling flexibility also appeals to hospitality workers seeking a better work-life balance.

Hospitality flexible worker roles include:

• Bellboy
• Housekeeping
• Service Crew
• Banquet Crew

Where to hire part-time workers in 2024?

Tapping into the gig economy

As businesses continue to embrace a flexible workforce model, tapping into the gig economy becomes an increasingly viable option for hiring part-time employee in 2024. Platforms like FastGig offer a wealth of part-time blue-collar candidates across industries like retail, food and beverage, events, and hospitality.

Plus, you can leverage their extensive reach to attract passive candidates who may be open to part-time opportunities.

Embracing social-media recruiting

In today's digital age, social media platforms have emerged as powerful tools for attracting part-time talent. Companies can leverage channels like LinkedIn and Facebook to create targeted campaigns highlighting the benefits of part-time work within their organization.

These platforms allow you to reach passive candidates who may not be actively job hunting but could be enticed by the right opportunity. Plus, you can leverage the power of employee advocacy, encouraging your existing part-time workforce to share job openings within their networks.

Offering flexibility and work-life balance

One of the key factors that will attract part-time workers in 2024 is the ability to offer flexibility and work-life balance. As highlighted by Main Street Recruitment, companies that provide reasonable attendance policies, shift flexibility programs, and accommodating schedules will have a competitive edge in the part-time labor market.

By catering to the needs of individuals seeking a better work-life integration, you'll not only attract top talent but also foster a more engaged and loyal part-time workforce.

Streamlining the hiring process

With the growing demand for part-time workers, it's essential to streamline your hiring process to move quickly and efficiently. Leverage applicant tracking systems and recruitment CRMs to automate tasks like candidate sourcing, job posting, and interview scheduling.

This not only saves time and resources but also ensures a seamless experience for both candidates and hiring managers, ultimately helping you secure the best part-time talent before your competitors do.

FAQ on Hiring Flexible Part-Time Workers in Singapore

What are flexible part-time workers?

Flexible part-time workers are employees who work reduced hours, usually less than 35 hours per week. They have the flexibility to choose their schedules and work arrangements. This could involve working remotely, staggered hours, job sharing, or any other non-traditional setup.

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What are the benefits?

Hiring flexible part-timers offers several advantages for companies:

• Access wider talent pools: You can tap into groups like caregivers, seniors, stay-at-home mums, and those needing accommodations who may prefer flexible arrangements.
• Reduce costs: Contingency workers often receive pro-rated benefits, reducing overhead expenses. You only pay when a worker is deployed, saving on unnecessary costs.
• Enhance engagement: Allowing flexible work can improve employee productivity, attraction and retention.
• Agile workforce: Control your manpower based on the ups and downs of the market. This reduces wastage and lowers cost.

How do I get started?

For a quick and hassle-free start, FastGig will conduct a job assessment to identify the job fit as well as how to integrate it into your existing processes. There is also a fully-managed service where we'll handle your posting, sourcing, qualifying, deployment, attendance, and payroll.

We also have a self-served service where the businesses will have full access to our rostering platform to source, deploy, track candidates, and process the payroll for candidates.

Do I have to approve all requests?

No, you are entitled to reject and approve applicants based on your needs.

What about statutory obligations?

The FastGig platform pays for the insurance of all Giggers on our platform with no expense from our clients. There is also no CPF obligations on employers as these flexible workers are considered as self-employed freelancers.

Any pitfalls to avoid?

While the guidelines aim to support work-life harmony, there are some potential downsides:

• Carefully evaluate productivity impact before approving part-time arrangements. Define clear targets and workloads.
• Ensure consistent treatment of all staff, whether full-time or part-time, when it comes to assignments and growth opportunities.
• Facilitate regular communication and check-ins to keep part-timers engaged and updated on company matters.
• Provide adequate training and resources to help part-time staff be as effective as their full-time counterparts.

By being mindful of such factors, you can build an agile, blended workforce that optimizes productivity while supporting employee needs.

Conclusion

You got it. The gig economy is here to stay. With more businesses adopting flexible workforces into their staffing strategy, opportunities are growing for workers seeking supplemental income or flexible hours. Retail, restaurants, events, hotels - even warehouses and factories - are tapping into on-demand talent pools to fill shifts and roles. For job seekers looking for side gigs, the options keep increasing across multiple blue-collar industries. So don't wait for the perfect 9-to-5. Take control of your schedule and finances. The flexible future is now.