Retention tips for employers: Keeping your best seasonal staff engaged

04 October 2024

Retention tips for employers: Keeping your best seasonal staff engaged

Seasonal staff play a vital role in helping employers manage the increased demands during the Christmas season. While seasonal employees are typically hired on a short-term basis, many of your top-performing seasonal candidates are valuable assets who can transition into permanent roles.

Retaining your best seasonal workers saves time and resources on recruiting and training and ensures you have skilled, reliable candidates ready to support your business when you need them most. In this blog, we’ll share practical retention tips for employers to keep seasonal staff engaged, motivated, and ready to return for future opportunities.

1. Build strong relationships with seasonal staff from day one

One of the most effective ways to retain your seasonal staff is to build strong, positive relationships with them from the moment they join your team. Employees who feel welcomed, valued, and part of the company culture are more likely to stay engaged and return for future employment. Start with a strong onboarding experience, introduce them to the team and be sure to create open lines of communication.

2. Offer incentives to staff

Providing clear rewards for their hard work and commitment encourages loyalty and motivates them to come back when your business needs extra support. Provide financial incentives and consider exclusive perks and discounts.

3. Maintain communication throughout the year

Just because the season is over doesn’t mean your relationship with your seasonal employees should end. Keeping in touch with top-performing seasonal candidates throughout the year helps maintain their engagement and increases the likelihood they’ll return when your business needs them again. Send regular email updates to your seasonal staff about permanent job opportunities.

4. Recognise and reward outstanding performance

Recognition plays a crucial role in employee satisfaction, and seasonal staff are no exception. Acknowledging their hard work and contributions makes them feel appreciated and motivates them to continue working for your company in the future. Recognise top performers and consider offering performance-based rewards and incentives.

5. Provide opportunities for career growth

Many seasonal workers are keen to turn their seasonal roles into permanent positions. Offering pathways to full-time employment can encourage top candidates to stay engaged with your company, even beyond the busy season.

Keep your best seasonal candidates coming back. Rethink employment with CoAct.

Retaining your top seasonal candidates is a smart business strategy. If you’re looking to connect with a diverse and talented pool of job seekers, speak with CoAct today. We can help you find and retain top performers.

Tagged:   Employer support
Illustration of staff member sitting at her work desk

Subscribe to the my JobCoach newsletter:

We can help you navigate the world of work with the latest job search tips, news and updates direct to your inbox each month.

Acknowledgement of First Nations Peoples

CoAct acknowledges the Traditional Owners and Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their continuing connection to land, water and community. We pay our respects to the peoples, the Cultures and the Elders past, present and emerging.

Diversity and inclusion

CoAct is committed to embracing diversity and inclusion by providing an inclusive service and work environment. We welcome everyone, irrespective of age, sex, gender, sexuality, culture, religion, size and ability.

Accessibility

We are committed to ensuring accessibility for people with disability. This includes digitally, in the workplace, and on the path to work. Online we continue to improve the user experience for every visitor by applying and upholding accessibility standards.
© 2024 CoAct