Sourcing, hiring and onboarding temporary employees is time consuming and costly. Getting enough staff at the right time can be the difference between hitting revenue targets or not.
Demand for warehouse workers in the UK has risen by 43% since pre-Covid times with the north East of England seeing double the number of job adverts in 2023 compared to 2019. ONS data, analysed by online staffing platform Flex, sets out the challenge in front of HR Directors and Talent Acquisition specialists.
Around 58% of businesses say they’ll be employing temps to support their permanent warehouse staff this year and 28% of HR professionals are looking to increase the number of short-term workers before the end of this year.
Finding temporary warehouse workers
With the UK labour shortage still ongoing, and the market remaining tight overall, sourcing additional talent for peak periods is challenging.
Widening your talent pool can help fill those difficult roles. Recruiting from an area where there are other large businesses vying for warehouse workers can mean it becomes more costly to be competitive.
Many people face challenges when public transportation to worksites outside of their local area is insufficient or unavailable, particularly during non-standard working hours. By providing workplace transport, you can tap into talent from outlying areas not served by buses or trains.
Improving Workforce Accessibility
By providing reliable transport to and from the worksite, regardless of public transport limitations, companies ensure that their employees can arrive on time and reliably.
This service is particularly beneficial for warehouse shift workers needed during non-standard hours, such as late-night or early-morning shifts when public transportation is often limited. Employees no longer have to worry about being stranded or facing lengthy, costly commutes - resulting in improved work-life balance and increased productivity.
Flexible and efficient workplace transport
Unlike fixed public transport routes, a shuttle bus service adjusts capacity according to the number of passengers.
For instance, if only a few employees need transportation, a taxi or minibus can be sent, while larger groups can be accommodated in a double-decker bus. This ensures optimal efficiency and cost-effectiveness, as RideTandem will only send transport when needed. When it’s not needed there are zero costs and zero emissions.
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Boosting Sustainability Ahead of Scope 3 Emissions Reporting
Another advantage of shuttle buses is their positive impact on the environment. Flexible transport which caters to the number of passengers booked on per trip, means you’re avoiding car journeys, using the right size transport for employee numbers and keeping costs, and emissions, low.
RideTandem helped one business replace more than 32,000 car journeys and avoid over 210 tonnes of carbon emissions in just 12 months. The client, which employs hundreds of people on a hard-to-reach site, is now ready to show this impact ahead of the Government’s Scope 3 emissions reporting deadline in January 2024.
An example of our environmental impact over six months on just one route:
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Enhancing Employee Satisfaction
When companies prioritise their employees' commuting needs by offering a reliable transportation solution, it fosters a sense of care and support. This, in turn, leads to increased job satisfaction and improved employee morale.
Workers appreciate the convenience and peace of mind that comes with knowing they have a dependable mode of transportation to rely on. The reduction in commuting stress positively affects their overall well-being, ultimately translating into higher job performance and better retention rates.
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Increase Talent Retention
Staff turnover costs companies dearly. For every employee that leaves the business, you’ve got to advertise, interview, hire, onboard, and train a new one. While this is happening, you’re losing productivity and having a negative impact on existing employees.
A shuttle bus can be cost-neutral to implement and could be the difference between losing staff who have long or expensive commutes and keeping them.
A reliable transportation service not only ensures your staff will be at the worksite on time, but it also demonstrates a commitment to employee welfare. Prospective candidates are more likely to be attracted to an organisation that values them and makes it easier to get to work. Additionally, existing employees who benefit from the shuttle bus service are more inclined to remain loyal to the company, reducing turnover.
Investing in a company-operated shuttle bus system offers numerous benefits, both for the organisation and its employees. By facilitating workforce mobility, reducing carbon emissions, and enhancing job satisfaction, companies can foster a positive work environment and improve their bottom line. Additionally, a reliable and flexible transportation solution.
