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Creating a Seasonal Schedule: What Employers Need to Know

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Creating a Seasonal Schedule: What Employers Need to Know
[ Creating a Seasonal Schedule: What Employers Need to Know

Creating a Seasonal Schedule: What Employers Need to Know

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What are Seasonal Employees?

Display window of a restaurant

Your business’s seasonal schedule will depend in large part on the seasonal employees you hire to perform the extra work.

According to the IRS and the U.S. Treasury Department, seasonal employees are those who fall into both of the following categories:

  • The expected duration of their employment is six months or fewer
  • The job for which they are hired starts and ends at approximately the same time each year

It doesn’t matter if your seasonal schedule has the new employees working 20 hours, 40 hours, or overtime each week; if their employment meets the above criteria, they are considered seasonal employees.

How to Create a Seasonal Schedule

1) Know Your Numbers

The first step in creating a successful seasonal schedule is to know your numbers. By tracking your month-by-month data, you can identify busy times of the year and implement seasonal schedules when necessary.

2) Plan When Your Seasonal Schedule Starts

Once you have your business metrics, start making a plan. Ask yourself:

  • What will your seasonal schedule look like?
  • How will you implement it into your regular work schedule?
  • When will the seasonal schedule start and end?
  • How many employees will you need to hire?
  • What will those seasonal employees do?

3) Prepare a Seasonal Schedule Template

Create a template so that all you have to do when the busy season approaches is fill in the appropriate time slots, distribute the schedule, and let your team get to work.

Sling scheduling template

4) Hire Early

Start the hiring process two or three months before the busy season. This gives you time to assess the new employees and ensure they are a good fit for the team.

5) Onboard and Train Your New Team

Use the months before the busy season as an onboarding and training period for both new and existing employees.

For more information on a successful onboarding process, read these articles:

Perfect Your Seasonal Schedule

Creating a seasonal schedule may seem daunting, but software like Sling makes the process easy. With Sling, you can:

  • Set up all types of work schedules
  • Manage time off
  • Coordinate availability
  • Simplify shift-trade requests
  • Streamline payroll
  • Track hours worked

Get in, create the schedule, and focus on keeping your business running smoothly during the busiest times of the year.

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  • Jordan Van Maanen