By Donne Nieman, Sales Director: Western Cape at Workforce Staffing
South African businesses have learned to work through all kinds of disruptions. One week it is a port backlog, the next week it is a water interruption or a gap in essential natural resources. These slowdowns put pressure on production, on teams and on the people responsible for keeping operations moving. When a business relies mainly on a permanent workforce, these disruptions hit even harder. Teams are either waiting for work with nothing to do or they are scrambling to recover once operations restart. The pressure is real on both sides.
This is where Temporary Employment Services (TES) can become a practical support system. TES gives businesses room to breathe by helping them bring in extra hands when things get busy and scale down when production slows. It protects productivity without placing extra strain on people.
Disruptions affect people first, then productivity
When production stops because resources are delayed or unavailable, permanent employees still need to be paid. They arrive at work, ready to contribute, but have limited work to do. It is frustrating for them and expensive for the business.
Then, as soon as operations pick up again, the pressure flips. Suddenly there is too much work and not enough capacity. Permanent teams try to push through the backlog, often working longer hours and carrying stress that builds over time. This stop-start rhythm affects morale, energy levels and the general sense of stability inside a business.
Why rigid staffing makes a tough situation worse
Permanent staffing is important, but when numbers cannot shift with production, strain builds on both sides. For businesses, labour costs continue even when output drops. For employees, uncertainty creates anxiety. When companies make quick decisions like short time or retrenchments to manage costs, it impacts trust and confidence. Skilled workers may leave, and the business takes another knock.
Getting the balance between permanent and flexible staffing right helps prevent this. It gives companies stability and gives employees clarity, which reduces the chances of sudden, disruptive decisions.
How TES helps businesses stay steady during unpredictable periods
TES gives companies access to additional suitable workers when needed, without the pressure of long-term commitments they cannot sustain. The right TES partner understands the operation, builds pre-vetted, ready-to-deploy labour pools and responds quickly when production levels change. When things are quiet, flexible staff can step back so permanent teams are not left feeling insecure. When operations ramp up, a TES partner can send in extra hands at short notice so teams do not burn out trying to catch up.
TES is not about replacing permanent employees. It is about supporting them so they can focus on their core roles while the business adapts to the real-world conditions around them. Seasonal peaks show how valuable this flexibility is. It would not make sense to hire additional permanent staff for a short burst of demand around Black Friday, for example. TES allows companies to meet the moment without creating long-term pressure.
Reducing the load on HR and operations
When disruptions occur, HR and operational teams often feel the strain first. Finding people, onboarding them properly and staying compliant takes effort, especially when everything is urgent. Instead, companies can outsource this to their TES partner, who will seamlessly handle recruitment, vetting, onboarding, payroll and compliance so internal teams are not overwhelmed.
This protects the business and ensures all workers are treated fairly and consistently. It also gives managers more time to focus on their teams, communication and wellbeing instead of emergency admin.
How TES benefits employees too
Permanent jobs are getting harder to find, and many workers are rethinking how they earn a living, which is where TES can make a real difference. Instead of relying on one employer or one project, workers can access a steady flow of opportunities across multiple clients, which means income doesn’t disappear when one project slows down.
TES also helps people grow. By working in different environments, individuals can build skills, confidence, and gain industry experience that can open the door to long-term opportunities further down the line. For many, TES becomes a practical stepping stone into stable, formal employment.
A more resilient way forward
Disruptions are part of everyday business now. Companies can’t stop supply delays or infrastructure failures, but they can choose how they prepare and respond. A flexible labour approach with a TES partner gives businesses room to adapt, stay productive and support their people, while avoiding reactive decisions that damage culture and stability.
With the right mix of permanent and flexible staff, companies can create space for teams to do their best work while staying ready for whatever comes next.
