3 Pros and 3 Cons of Hiring Seasonal Employees


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Hiring seasonal employees can be a real advantage to small businesses that only operate during specific times of the year. But before you decide to hire seasonal employees, be sure to consider the pros and cons of doing so.

Three pros of hiring seasonal workers:

Mark Rowley, Owner
RandR Payroll Services

  1. Trial Employee – Even in the off season, small businesses often need to maintain a few employees on the payroll. Hiring an employee as a seasonal worker during the busy months allows you a short trial period of that employee. If the employee is a good fit and you need the help, you can offer longer-term employment. Otherwise, at season’s end you can let them go.
  2. Reduced Payroll Costs – Employee payroll costs can be quite expensive for year-round businesses. As a seasonal business, you can lower your payroll costs by hiring only for those months of the year when you need help. Seasonal employees are often part-time workers and commonly paid at lower rates than their full-time counterparts.
  3. Less Risk – Hiring a new employee is always a bit uncertain. Will they be a good fit for the company? Do they work hard? Fortunately, as a small business with seasonal workers, hiring a less than ideal employee is not a long-term mistake. At the end of the season, you can part ways without any promise of future work.

Three cons of hiring seasonal workers:

  1. Casual commitment – Seasonal workers are sometimes less committed to the job because of the short-term nature of the work. They might not take the job as seriously as a full-time worker would.
  2. Higher Turn Over – Seasonal employees are generally less well-trained and prepared for their jobs which can cause them to become discouraged and overwhelmed. When this happens, they may leave their job before season’s end.
  3. Poor Job Satisfaction – The nature of seasonal work can sometimes result in less loyalty and job satisfaction. If a competitor in your space can offer better pay and benefits, a dissatisfied worker may leave without hesitation.

Do you need help with seasonal payroll setup? Our team is here to assist! Call us at R&R Payroll & Bookkeeping Services at (951) 296-0412