24 Tips to Get Organized in January, Tip #15: Hire Part Time or Seasonal Help
Tip #15: Hire Part Time or Seasonal Help.
There are a number of folks that work in my office. I am the only one of them who has ever touched the toilet brush in our washroom.
Let me set the record straight: I don’t clean toilets for fun. I clean them out of necessity. Similarly, the vacuuming, the filing, the taking out of the garbage? All of it because I run my own business and those are some of things that you have to do when you run your own business.
Last year, we hired someone to clean the office on the weekends. It was not cheap. But it was money well spent. Why? Because when I came into the office on Monday, I sat down at my desk and I worked. I did not do a quick check in the loo to make sure it was presentable for clients. I did not glance at the trash cans to see if they needed to be emptied. I did not feel the need to check the glass doors for fingerprints. I worked. And every other day that I came into the office, I worked.
When the person that cleaned our office left, I decided that I would fill in for a bit while we looked for a new cleaner. That was a poor decision. Now, instead of coming in and being productive, I am the janitorial staff first.
It hurts to spend money on staffing - especially when you feel like you can do the work yourself. But when you waste time doing jobs that could be outsourced or filled by part time or occasional help, you’re losing money. Why? Because ultimately, time is money.
You don’t necessarily need a full time cleaner. Or even a regular filer. Some work can be part time or on an as needed basis.
During summer, we hire high school or college students to help us with filing that has piled up. The cost is minimal and those students are not expecting a full time position in the fall. It works beautifully. In fact, one year, we partnered with a local youth center and the wages were subsidized by a grant - really inexpensive for us plus we were doing something good.
We farm out overflow typing to a woman who does virtual office services - she picks up the work to be done and emails us the results. It’s very economical and beats hiring an additional temp.
Hiring part time or occasional help can be extremely valuable. Sometimes, you just need a push - like during busy seasons. Sometimes, you just need someone to come in once or twice a month to get some things done. No matter what your needs are, you can likely find someone in your community who is skilled and flexible. Don’t be afraid to experiment a little - explain upfront that the position is temporary.
Even the most organized person in the world can’t do everything all of the time. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. You’ll be glad that you did.
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