Picture this scenario: it’s Wednesday morning, and the office is buzzing. Your team has been working long hours on a high-stakes project and the deadline is approaching, when your key admin person – who keeps everything running smoothly – calls in sick for the rest of the week.

Your to-do list is already packed and now you’re facing late nights or critical details slipping through the cracks. Reassigning tasks isn’t an option with your team stretched thin, and hiring a permanent replacement would be time consuming and unnecessary.

This is where a temp can save the day. Within hours, you could have an experienced, pre-vetted admin professional in place, ready to hit the ground running. Crisis averted.

The reality is, staffing gaps happen in every business. Whether it’s an unexpected absence, a seasonal surge, or a high-pressure project deadline, being short-staffed can have a big impact. Let’s take a look at how these challenges affect organisations, and why temporary staffing is an effective solution.

The Impacts

A short-staffed business can feel the strain quickly, and I know that after a challenging 2024, there’s not many workplaces in New Zealand that are enjoying having a surplus of staff sitting around, ready to fill in. Here are the key impacts of workforce gaps:

• Productivity drops as employees take on extra responsibilities.
• Deadlines slip and customer service may suffer.
• High-performing employees risk burnout from prolonged overwork.

Delaying implementing some kind of solution can unfortunately compound these challenges. If key deadlines are missed or customer experience declines, the business risks losing revenue or long-term trust. That’s why a quick, flexible solution is critical.

The Solution: Temporary Staff

In a nutshell: Temporary staffing provides businesses with qualified workers on a short-term basis, whether for a few days, weeks, or months. Temps should already be fully vetted, which here at Madison, means at least two reference checks, credit check, full declarations regarding health status, criminal convictions and residence status, and depending on the temp’s profile, can also include skills and psychometric testing.

Temps are employees of the agency, rather than your own business, which means they can slot in and help to bridge your staffing gap without any long-term commitment. Below are some of the top reasons we recommend temps.

Top Benefits of Hiring Temps

• Flexibility – You can easily scale your workforce up or down as needed, whether for seasonal peaks or to meet project deadlines, helping your organisation maintain productivity. You can even try adding a new role to see if it makes a difference to business performance, before committing to permanent headcount.
• Speed – A well-networked and established agency should be able to have a temp in place by the next day. Recently, I even managed to get a temp started the same day that the requirement was called in! This of course means there’s no lengthy hiring or onboarding process, so you minimise downtime and any related potential loss in revenue.
• Skills access – These days temp workers are available across a wide variety of industries, professions, and career levels. This means you can bring in helpful expertise and skills to enhance your team when and where needed.
• Reduced stress – Bringing in a temp helps ensure workloads are distributed and managed effectively, reducing stress on your permanent employees and helping prevent burnout. With the right support in place, your team can stay focused, productive, and engaged.
• Cost effectiveness – There are no long-term salary commitments, benefits, or training costs, and your recruitment agency deals with payroll, so you can focus on other business needs instead. There are also no hidden costs; the rate agreed is all-inclusive.

Common Questions

I know some employers may still have reservations; there are plenty of misconceptions about temp workers and the hiring process, from concerns about reliability to uncertainty around costs and compliance. So below are some of the most common questions we get, but if we’ve missed any, feel free to reach out to me directly!

“Will a temp really be reliable – and productive?”

Absolutely. Reputable recruitment agencies have rigorous vetting processes to ensure temps are skilled, experienced, and ready to get stuck in where you need them most. Many temps are highly motivated professionals who enjoy the variety and flexibility of temporary work. They understand the need to adapt quickly and deliver results from day one, and often bring fresh perspectives and efficiency, contributing positively to workplace productivity.

“Isn’t it expensive to hire temps?”

Not necessarily. When you factor in the cost of overburdened staff, lost productivity, overtime pay, missed deadlines, or project delays, hiring a temp is often a cost-effective solution. You’re only paying for the work you need, without the long-term financial commitment of a permanent hire. Plus, a good temp agency will handle payroll, benefits, and compliance, reducing your administrative burden. In many cases, the investment in a temp worker saves businesses money in the long run by maintaining efficiency and preventing burnout in existing staff.

“What if we don’t have the resources to manage the legal and compliance risk?”

A reputable recruitment provider will manage all employment risks—contracts, payroll, compliance with New Zealand’s labour laws—so you don’t have to. So yes, while you are smart to be mindful of risks, if you are going with an established agency, then actually risks will be minimised.  A reputable agency will manage all the employment-related legalities, including contracts, payroll, tax obligations, holiday pay, and compliance with New Zealand’s labour laws. This means you can bring in the support you need without the stress of navigating employment laws, which can actually reduce risk.

“Won’t a temp just leave as soon as they find something permanent?”

While some temps may be seeking permanent roles, many choose temping as a career path because of the flexibility and variety it offers. Agencies ensure clear communication about assignment duration and expectations, so you’re matched with a temp who is committed to the timeframe you need. If a temp’s situation changes, a good recruitment partner will have backup candidates ready to step in, ensuring minimal disruption to your business.

“Will a temp fit into our team and culture?”

A good recruiter doesn’t just match skills; they match personalities and work styles too. The best agencies take the time to understand your company culture and find temps who will integrate seamlessly with your team. Many temps are highly adaptable and experienced in stepping into new environments, so they can quickly build relationships and contribute effectively.

“What if we end up wanting to keep our temp permanently?”

Great news – many temp roles turn into permanent hires. If you find that your temp is an excellent fit, agencies can facilitate a smooth transition to permanent employment. This is a great way to see whether a new role makes a difference to your organisation’s performance before committing to a long-term investment.

Proactivity, not reactivity

No one wants to be scrambling when a crisis hits (or when business is booming!). Planning ahead is a competitive advantage, and I believe that thinking strategically about when and where temp staff fit in, is a big part of an effective workforce strategy. Think about it like this – you’re not just filling in gaps, but making smart, flexible staffing decisions to keep business running smoothly, no matter what.

Want to know more?

As you can hopefully tell, I’m a passionate believer in this topic, and I love making a tangible difference in my client’s businesses! If you’d like to talk further or find out more about our temporary staffing solutions, feel free to reach out to me or connect on LinkedIn.