American businesses face an unusual and potentially long-term problem in the ongoing labor shortage. In fact, just shy of 50 percent of businesses see it as a serious concern. It’s also a problem that reaches across industries, including warehouses.
On top of that, most warehouses don’t want any person they can get to come in off the street. They want the best warehouse workers they can get, meaning those with some meaningful training and experience under their belts.
While you can train from scratch, it’s almost always easier to retrain someone who knows the common equipment and processes already.
So, if you’re in the market for warehouse employees, keep reading for four tips on how to hire warehouse workers.
1. Money and Benefits
Money doesn’t solve all problems, but a combination of money and benefits can attract candidates and help you retain workers. You must keep in mind that the youth element you need to attract sees high-paying IT jobs as viable alternatives.
Yet, many workers might prefer jobs that don’t require a constant learning process just to stay current. If you can offer a decent warehouse employee salary and benefits, you can attract those candidates.
2. Ask for Referrals
Warehouses aren’t alone in doing this, but many still look to fill positions by posting want ads online and using third-party services to source candidates. Even worse, some never even ask their employees for referrals.
The odds are good that your current employees will know other people that will prove a good fit for the warehouse work environment. They’ll also have a decent idea about who can and cannot master things like warehouse inventory and stock management.
3. Prioritize Warehouse Safety
Much like manufacturing, the warehouse industry comes with a built-in bad reputation. The youth segment you need to attract often views warehouses as dingy and unsafe workplaces. With a reputation like that, it’s difficult to blame people for not wanting to jump onto the warehouse employees’ bandwagon.
By prioritizing workplace safety, you can make that part of your pitch to potential employees.
4. Transparency
Replacing employees was a struggle even before the current labor shortage. A lack of transparency about the demands of the jobs and the skills required can make attrition an ongoing problem for you.
When talking with candidates about what they should expect, give it to them straight. It’s better that someone walks out of the interview knowing they won’t’ take the job than having them quit after two weeks.
Hiring Warehouse Workers and You
While the labor shortage will make sourcing warehouse workers a challenge, for the time being, it’s not a hopeless challenge. You can boost the number and quality of candidates you get in several ways.
Offering a living wage as a salary and some benefits will help attract those who don’t relish constant training. Get referrals from your employees. Embrace transparency about the skills and realities of the job.
Embrace warehouse safety as a way to offset some of the negative perceptions about warehouse work.
Looking for more hiring tips? Check out the Hiring & Employment posts in our Articles section.
