Staff deployment | Definition | What is | international | efficient | qualitative

The term staffing deals with what is likely the most important company resource: employees. Proper staffing ensures the necessary workforce is available to meet operational requirements at all times. This is done by optimally assigning and managing employees. That means effective staffing helps increase company productivity, optimize workflows, and control costs.

 

Content

↓ Definition of staffing
↓ What makes international staffing work
↓ Examples of different forms of staff planning
↓ The different phases of the staffing process
↓ Legal frameworks for the employment of labor
↓ Checklist: What matters for staffing software
↓ 5 tips when it comes to staffing
↓ How can staffing level be determined?
↓ What are the goals of staff planning?
↓ How can software support staff planning?

 

 

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Definition of Staffing

Staffing is a subarea of human resource management that focuses on assigning personnel to jobs within the company. Quantitative, qualitative, time aspects, and location aspects are all of central importance. That means it’s not a question of filling every position with just any employee. It’s about making targeted use of your existing personnel. This is the only way to ensure efficient and qualitative work. And that, in turn, is the foundation for company success. When it comes to competitiveness, staffing is also one of the key company roles.

 

 

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What Makes International Staffing Work

For large companies in particular, international staffing is also a common topic of conversation. Typically, this involves sending employees abroad. Globally active companies with locations across the world use international staffing to ensure competent personnel is available in sufficient numbers everywhere. For example, employees in Germany are sent to a location abroad, or employees from abroad are assigned in Germany. Due to the severity of current staff shortages, the use of personnel from abroad is increasingly becoming a solution.

For companies, international staffing is an effective tool that fits perfectly in an era of increasing globalization. At the same time, however, it’s important not to forget the psychological effects this can have on employees. Work assignments abroad can be an immense burden. For this reason, employees should be onboard as well and, if necessary, should be able to take their families with them. The company can facilitate the international assignment by, for example, providing housing.

 

 

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Examples of Different Forms of Staff Planning

There a several forms of staff planning that need to be distinguished:

• Quantitative staff planning
  Quantitative staff planning ensures that existing staff requirements are covered by the appropriate number of employees.
• Qualitative staff planning
  Qualitative staff planning works to match employee knowledge and skills to the requirements of each position. That means it’s a matter of ensuring that the right personnel are assigned to the appropriate positions.
• Time aspect staff planning
  Seasonal fluctuations in work volume play an essential role when it comes to the time aspects of staff planning. The goal is to make sure there is enough staff available at the right time.

 

 

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The Different Phases of the Staffing Process

In the context of staffing, the different forms of staff planning aren’t the only important aspect. The different phases of the staff planning process also need to be addressed. Staff planning can be divided into the following phases:

• Employment start
• Main employment
• Employment end

 

 

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Legal Framework for the Employment of Labor

When it comes to labor employment, companies primarily take an economic standpoint. They want to achieve the greatest possible efficiency and with high quality. The legal aspects of employment, however, can’t be ignored. The “time-clock ruling” from the European Court of Justice (ECJ), for example, is especially important when it comes to time recording. In terms of things like maximum working hours, on the other hand, the Hours of Work Act is the relevant legal basis. Consequently, labor law plays a considerable role when it comes to staffing planning.

 

 

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Checklist: What Matters for Staffing Software

In principle, staff planning can be done manually. Theoretically, pen and paper are sufficient, but for most companies, they are not the means for modern staff planning. This is where special staff planning software that can keep track of the entire workforce and arising tasks comes into play. Created more or less automatically, the software assigns available employees to needed positions, creating the optimal shift schedule. When choosing a suitable software, you should take the following criteria into account:

• Scope of functions
• Compatibility
• User-friendliness
• Support
• Up-to-dateness
• Costs

It is also important to ensure staff planning fits to the respective company size. Special solutions for small and medium-sized businesses are aimed at small companies with a manageable workforce. Other systems are designed for a larger number of employees and can handle complex staff planning.

 

 

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5 Tips When It Comes to Staffing

Staff planning is a big challenge for human resources management. With professional knowledge and a lot of experience, staff planning software can be mastered. It also doesn’t hurt to keep the following tips in mind when planning your staff:

•  Always keep an eye on possible shortages.
• Make sure to take employee preferences and needs into account.
• Maintain open and clear communication with your employees.
• Plan concretely but still maintain a certain degree of flexibility to react to unforeseen circumstances!

 

 

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How Can Staffing Level Be Determined?

The question of staffing level always arises when it comes to staffing. Before staff planning can take place, demand first needs to be determined. While it’s important to determine the total amount of work, you also need to focus on working hours per employee. By doing so, quantitative staffing requirements can be established. At the same time, you also need to consider employee qualifications as well as staff reserve requirements.

 

 

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What Are the Goals of Staff Planning?

Staff planning is the process of assigning staff. Your goal is to assign enough qualified employees to the right jobs. Personnel capacities of the company and staff requirements are, therefore, the central factors your staff planning software will aim to meet.

 

 

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How Can Software Support Staff Planning?

Coordinating staff can be very challenging. Modern software proves to be extremely helpful in this case, as it makes staff planning clear and efficient. Today’s workforce management systems automate staff planning to a large extent and provide a connection to time management and other HR disciplines. The right staff planning software takes human resource management to the next level and helps contribute to the company’s overall efficiency.

 

 

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Summary

Staffing deals with what is likely the most important company resource: employees.
Only when you have all employees in the right place at the right time with the right qualifications you can reach optimal staffing. When staff shortages or incorrect planning becomes apparent, however, it becomes very clear how decisive staffing is for the economic success of the company. These days, professional software like plano Staff Planning is a must-have and can be a great relief for small companies. It’s the only way to ensure qualified employees are assigned where they’re needed at all times.

 

 

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