Temporary work job searches containing the word ‘Christmas’ were 244 percent higher going into October compared to the same time last year, according to recruiter Indeed Flex.
The increase shows that employers have started the recruitment process for seasonal staff earlier than usual this year as businesses UK-wide prepare for their first ‘normal’ Christmas in three years thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Vero Screening, a leading European employment screening provider, says the shift in seasonal hiring this year should first and foremost serve to remind employers of the mass increase in gig workers arising from the pandemic, and the risks posed to those most vulnerable back then too.
As employers search for staff earlier than ever this year, Vero Screening urges businesses to seek out proper onboarding checks and avoid unnecessary risk.
So, what should you be looking out for in temporary staff this Christmas?
What are the risks to your business in hiring with haste, in what looks set to be a more fraught festive season than usual in 2022?
Virginia McFarlane-Watts, Head of Business Development at Vero, explains: “Gig workers often come into contact with those who are vulnerable – children, the elderly, or those who are housebound. They’ll usually work independently, receiving less oversight than a typical employee who is based in an office, for example, maybe making deliveries or meeting the general public as part of a festively themed service offering.”
“This in turn requires a higher level of trust from both service users and employers, and is something which is very true of the Christmas period. Delivery drivers were in high demand during the pandemic just as they are during the festive season, for example, meaning ample hiring practices are required to ensure that the risk to your business, its people – and most importantly your customers – are minimised this Christmas.”
The fundamental checks
To help HR practitioners, business leaders and other professionals responsible for hiring temporary staff this Christmas, background check experts at Vero have therefore identified the following as fundamental typical checks to make on seasonal and gig workers:
- Criminal record checks
- Driver licence checks
- Employment verification
- Education verification
- Right-to-work checks
Virginia said: “When hiring temporary employees, it’s important to be reminded of the higher turnover rates that are typically involved – they may be looking to use it as a stepping stone to more permanent employment, or simply be viewing their opportunity with you as a ‘stop gap’ until something better comes along. As a result, the process of onboarding temporary workers can be all too swift so that employment can commence as quickly as possible.”
“But it’s important for anyone looking to hire temporary staff this Christmas to remember that, although they may not sit within your business for long, their actions could leave a lasting, and ultimately costly, impact. In our experience, these are the checks which can act as an additional verification of the background and trustworthiness of the gig worker, therefore.”
Amelia Brand is the Editor for HRreview, and host of the HR in Review podcast series. With a Master’s degree in Legal and Political Theory, her particular interests within HR include employment law, DE&I, and wellbeing within the workplace. Prior to working with HRreview, Amelia was Sub-Editor of a magazine, and Editor of the Environmental Justice Project at University College London, writing and overseeing articles into UCL’s weekly newsletter. Her previous academic work has focused on philosophy, politics and law, with a special focus on how artificial intelligence will feature in the future.
