How to find the right warehouse staffing agency for your staffing needs
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, nearly 570,000 new warehouse workers will need to be hired over the next decade to meet increasing demand. As a result, many businesses are partnering with staffing agencies for warehouse staffing solutions to ensure their workforce needs are always met.
If you’ve never worked with a warehouse staffing agency before, here are some questions you should ask before you finalize your partnership.
Questions to ask a staffing agency about their warehouse staffing solutions
What makes your staffing agency the best option to hire warehouse workers?
If you’re considering working with a staffing agency, you have a ton of options. While having so many choices is always a good thing, it can also make choosing the right staffing agency challenging.
So, what makes a staffing agency stand out? One of the first things to look for is their track record of staffing success. Search for an agency with a reputation for providing reliable workers when and where they’re needed most. You can also ask for references or testimonials from other companies who can vouch for the staffing agency’s services.
Could you share more about your experience hiring warehouse workers?
Many staffing agencies are relatively new to the market or lack expertise in warehouse staffing. This can mean they have a lack of local connections or a smaller pool of candidates to draw from, both of which reduce the number and quality of workers they provide.
On the other hand, you can count on a staffing agency that specializes in warehouse staffing solutions to offer the support you need. They know how to identify the right workers for your warehouse and can give you convenient access to a broader pool of candidates.
What types of warehouse workers do you provide?
Warehouses rely on various types of workers — ranging from pickers and packers to machine operators or maintenance workers. Each role contributes to the warehouse’s success, which is why it’s so important to place the right workers in each role. Unfortunately, some staffing agencies only specialize in hiring for one specific type of role, and this can prolong your staffing process.
As for warehousing or manufacturing staffing agencies, they can easily fill multiple types of warehouse jobs at once. They can also keep up with your changing needs by providing workers across many different roles. For example:
- Assembly and production workers
- Forklift operators
- Loaders and unloaders
- Machine operators
- Pickers and packers
- Shipping and receiving workers
- And more
Are you able to provide flexible staffing options for warehouses?
Flexible staffing options benefit warehouse employers and employees alike. Staffing flexibility can support your company’s immediate and future hiring needs, ensuring that you always have enough workers to get the job done right.
When you’re considering which staffing agency to partner with, check to see if they offer flexible staffing arrangements. These may include:
- Temporary workers: Whether you’re struggling to staff short-term assignments or trying to fill in for employees on vacation or sick leave, temporary workers can be a great asset to your team.
- Seasonal workers: When business picks up during the holidays or other busy seasons, these workers can help you for a specific period of time.
- Temp-to-hire workers: This arrangement gives you the opportunity to try workers out to see if they may be right for a full-time position.
What recruiting methods do you use to find warehouse workers to hire?
Successful recruitment involves carefully sourcing and selecting candidates to ensure they are the right fit for your company. Your ideal staffing agency will have a strong network of local connections, which may include community groups, schools and government institutions.
They can also use their social media channels and other recruitment efforts to advertise your open positions. Their expanded reach helps your staffing agency connect with a broader audience and attract job seekers with ease.
How do you ensure that the warehouse workers you provide follow safety protocols?
You take safety seriously. So should your staffing agency. The right staffing agency can help minimize common safety hazards in the warehousing industry. They should also have their own Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP) and provide basic Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for all workers.
Another good sign is if they require each candidate to undergo a safety assessment before they are recommended for your company. All of these efforts are a strong indication of their commitment to safety.
What is your screening process for the warehouse workers you recommend?
A thorough vetting process ensures that each worker in your warehouse has the skills and qualifications you require. Without these screenings, you may struggle to hire workers who can meet your quality standards.
Your staffing agency can oversee the vetting process so that you always have a workforce that meets your needs. Their in-depth screenings help identify workers who can perform safely in a warehouse environment and have the skills needed to succeed. As a result, you can create a productive work environment that benefits you and your team.
Does your warehouse staffing agency have a local presence in my community?
Finding warehouse workers can be challenging, particularly in areas with limited networking opportunities or few active job seekers. In these cases, it takes creative outreach strategies and strong community partnerships to reach all the right candidates.
The right warehouse or manufacturing staffing agency for you has invested years in creating and maintaining relationships to expand their network and local expertise. They have a deep understanding of the hiring market in your area and can offer customized workforce solutions to meet your needs.
Can you provide staffing support for multiple warehouses?
Managing staffing requirements across multiple warehouses is no easy feat. With staffing solutions that address each location’s specific needs, you can ensure you have the workforce you need across your entire company.
If you’re operating in several locations, staffing agencies with a national reach have the resources necessary to provide warehouse and manufacturing staffing services for all of them. They’ll also account for the hiring trends in each community you serve while ensuring that each of your warehouses has a right-sized workforce.
What’s your process for managing urgent warehouse hiring needs?
In your warehouse, situations like special projects, shifting deadlines and sudden worker absences could lead to last-minute staffing needs. Flexible warehouse staffing services can help your company navigate changes without missing a step.
The best staffing agencies can easily scale your workforce up or down depending on your needs. This gives you easy access to supplemental workers who can see you through busy seasons and provide extra support when your team needs it most.
What other warehouse staffing services can your staffing agency offer?
Onboarding, payroll and administrative duties must be completed for each of your new hires. While crucial for building and maintaining a strong workforce, these tasks can also be time-consuming.
As part of their warehouse staffing services, staffing agencies can take on these responsibilities for you, freeing you to focus on other important aspects of your business. Plus, they can manage compliance tasks to ensure that your workforce adheres to all local and federal employment laws. This is especially important given the increasing prevalence of employee misclassification issues.
Can you help us create a long-term staffing plan for our warehouse?
Your staffing needs may evolve over time, requiring you to hire workers on a long-term or even permanent basis. A partnership with a staffing agency can help you prepare for these changes and ensure you always have the workforce necessary to meet ongoing demands.
One of the key warehouse staffing services the agency can offer is assistance with creating a long-term staffing plan that considers your locations, services and other factors. When you work with experts in warehouse staffing, they can offer valuable insights and guidance for your future hiring efforts, equipping your company for long-term success.
Hiring warehouse workers? Partner with PeopleReady for warehouse staffing needs
PeopleReady is your partner for manufacturing and warehouse staffing needs, whether you need to hire production workers, hire shipping and receiving workers, hire manufacturing workers or hire other workers across a variety of roles.
PeopleReady serves hundreds of communities throughout the U.S., so we understand the specific staffing needs in your local area. Meanwhile, our dedicated support team combined with our JobStack app gives you convenient access to our warehousing and manufacturing staffing solutions at all times.
So, if you’re wondering where you can find warehouse workers who are available now, check out our locations page to get started.
