How the Gig Economy Can Elevate Your Catering Staff

Planning an event while simultaneously trying to secure skilled and reliable catering staff is no easy feat!

Callouts can happen, leaving you to be potentially short-staffed and unable to deliver the excellent service your clients expect. There’s nothing worse than dialing endlessly trying to find fill-ins while simultaneously trying to get set up for a big event – and most of the time, it yields little to no results. 

That’s where the gig economy comes in handy. 

Why it's Difficult to Hire Catering Staff

Workforce issues are a common challenge for catering businesses as the nature of the business involves coordinating a variety of tasks and managing a diverse team. 

Seasonal Fluctuations

Catering businesses often experience peaks and valleys in demand, especially during seasons or holidays. This can lead to challenges in staffing appropriately during busy times while avoiding overstaffing during slower periods.

Skill Variability

Catering requires a mix of skills, including cooking, serving, event planning, and customer service. Finding and retaining staff with the right combination of skills can be a challenge, especially for specialized events.

High Turnover

The catering industry can be demanding, with long hours, weekend work, and high-pressure situations. This can contribute to high turnover rates as employees may seek a better work-life balance or more stable schedules.

Scheduling Conflicts 

Coordinating schedules among a diverse team with various availability preferences and part-time commitments can be complex. Managing last-minute changes and accommodating employee schedules can be a logistical challenge.

Why Embrace the Gig Economy for Your Catering Staff Needs?

Instant Access to a Diverse Talent Pool

The gig economy opens doors to a diverse network of experienced catering professionals. This approach allows you to instantly connect with skilled individuals, eliminating the delays often associated with the traditional hiring process.

Tailored to Every Event Size

Whether you’re orchestrating an intimate gathering or a large-scale celebration, the gig economy accommodates events of all sizes. Adjust your staffing requirements based on the unique needs of each occasion, ensuring you have the right team for every event.

Catering Staff for Every Role

From the front-of-the house to the back-of-the house to event setup and everything in between, the gig economy connects you with an array of work types, allowing you to build a customized team that meets your event requirements. 

Examples of shift types you can find on gig economy platforms for your next event include:

• Bartenders
• Prep Cooks
• Banquet Servers
• Janitorial Staff
• Bussers
• Valet 
• Dishwashers
• Food Station Attendants
• Hosts/Hostesses
• Event Assistants
• Food Runners
• Line Cooks

Agile Scaling for Peak Seasons

During peak seasons or periods of high demand, catering companies can seamlessly scale their operations with gig economy workers. This agile approach ensures you can meet increased client demands without the long-term commitment of traditional hiring.

Build a Cost-Effective Team

Catering demands can ebb and flow throughout the year. Hiring full-time employees - especially if your business doesn’t need them year-round - can be costly. 

The U.S. Small Business Administration estimates that you should expect to pay 1.25 to 1.40 times more than the hourly wage when hiring a full-time employee. 

Leveraging hourly gig economy workers enables you to accommodate increased demand when you have it without incurring the cost associated with hiring full-time workers. 

Quality Assurance through Ratings

Gig economy apps enable you to maintain high-quality standards by choosing workers with a proven track record of excellence in similar roles. Evaluating the profiles and ratings of gig workers allows you to make informed decisions about who you’re bringing into your business.

Optimized Resource Management

Access to a flexible workforce allows you to allocate staff precisely to where and when they are needed, minimizing idle time and maximizing efficiency. 

Using gig economy platforms enables you to efficiently staff events by specific roles, the catering staff's hourly rates, and required skills.

Power Your Next Event with the Gig Economy

Businesses across industries are increasingly leveraging the gig economy to mitigate the challenges traditional staffing methods may not solve. For caterers, the benefits are clear: a diverse pool of talent at your fingertips, the ability to adapt to any event size, and a pay-as-you-go model that ensures cost efficiency.

The gig economy isn’t just a tool for businesses to leverage; it’s a strategic advantage that caters to (no pun intended!) the ever-evolving needs of this industry’s dynamic landscape.

About shiftNOW

shiftNOW connects hospitality’s finest brands to quality talent. Founded in 2022, we provide a flexible solution to the hospitality industry’s toughest problem - talent. From one-time, recurring, or temp-to-hire shift work, shiftNOW enables businesses to easily control how they resource their business and provides top-tier talent with an easy way to make money on their own terms. The right worker. The right shift. Right NOW.

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