Frontline managers struggling to corral quality seasonal work, study finds

Retail and food service industries are in immediate need of skilled seasonal workers, says a recent study by Axonify. The study surveyed managers about their mental health, seasonal staffing ability, and training processes.

More than half of hiring managers said it’s more difficult to find workers this year than last, and many managers noted that the quality of seasonal job applicants is less skilled, professional and experienced. On the other hand, employees are actively searching for positions with opportunities for training and upskilling, competitive perks and benefits and flexible work schedules. This may be in part due to economic shifts, which many managers believe has impacted their ability to find workers. Many managers had to revise their job descriptions, dropping education, skill requirements or location-based requirements to net more applicants.

The most common response from frontline managers when asked what keeps them up at night during peak work seasons was “understaffing.” Two in three managers polled said they were burnt out leading into peak seasons, potentially why nearly half of all managers have considered quitting in the past two months.

Without proper training for new employees, the negative feedback loop continues and inefficient systems are put in place. When workers aren’t given proper training, they’re not interested in investing their time and energy into passionately fulfilling a job, affecting the health of the entire work culture.

Many managers have solutions in mind. When asked what would help streamline the seasonal hiring and training process, common responses were:

• More support from HQ (65%)
• More empowered/engaged workforce (63%)
• Stronger employee/manager community to share ideas (62%)
• Wellbeing/mental health support for employees (62%)

Related: Frontline workers continue to have complex issues, report says

The importance of addressing foundational worker needs cannot be understated, encouraging more long-term connections that empower employees to stay loyal and engaged for the long term. Many managers polled believe that the demand for seasonal workers in retail and hospitality will increase in the next year, so creating systems to extend into the long run are likely more beneficial than quick fix solutions. The answers sought out by managers will not be fulfilled by a simple change, but instead by managerial implementations that extend far into the future.