What do seasonal workers want from employers? New survey offers answers

Holiday spending this year is expected to increase by as much as 8% over 2021, according to the National Retail Federation. Which means seasonal workers could be busy. But they also might need a little extra attention, as evidenced by the results of a new survey by Axonify, a software provider of training and communications solutions for frontline employees.

“Seasonal hiring this year looks different,” according to the Introduction of “In their words: The state of seasonal workers” — a report summarizing Axonify’s survey of 1,500 U.S. seasonal workers across the finance and insurance, retail and grocery, and food service and hospitality sectors. “While large companies are still planning to onboard hundreds of thousands of new hires to accommodate the notorious holiday rush, employee priorities are shifting.”

The survey sought to better understand what persuades seasonal workers to take a job, their preferences toward professional growth, and how to design a safe and productive workplace.

It reveals that 4 in 5 seasonal workers are facing financial burdens because of the economic downturn — and that’s why 81% of them claim to take a seasonal job.

Seasonal workers also are seeking more money, flexibility and perks from their employers, according to the survey, and more than half of them are using seasonal employment to test new opportunities and expand their skills.

Here are three more highlights from the report:

• Seasonal employees need more training.

Two-thirds of seasonal employees say they’ve received two days of training or less, which doesn’t leave room for much learning beyond the basics, as the report’s authors note. Opportunities exist for employers to focus more on worker development beyond onboarding, with an eye toward long-term career pathways that foster loyalty and mitigate turnover.

• Seasonal employees crave greater autonomy.

Giving employees the flexibility to pick up or bid on shifts, easily switch shifts with a coworker, or work at different locations can lead to a sense of employee autonomy, which the report states can help increase employee retention and satisfaction.

• Seasonal employees want to feel safer on the job.

Four in 5 respondents believe workplaces are more dangerous and hostile than in the past, with 70% of them saying customers are more aggressive and hostile. Almost 60% report encountering customer conflict and issues daily. Alarmingly, only 39% have been trained to handle hostile situations or workplace violence.

Read more: ’Tis the season for small businesses to hire temporary holiday workers

Tips for seasonal employers

“In their words: The state of seasonal workers” concludes with actionable ideas for employers to create a better seasonal employee experience.

The report’s authors suggest building flexible work schedules and offering tailored training options, placing greater emphasis on training and development of seasonal employees, being communicative and transparent, and developing and reinforcing a strategic plan regarding potential workplace violence.