This is great article from Best Friends and one that you should definitely read if you're having trouble hiring staff right now.
Something I would add, would be for us to not forget about the POWER of volunteers. We in animal welfare, unlike many other professions, have groups of amazing people that want to work with us for FREE. If you're having trouble hiring, this is a great time to go look at your volunteer recruitment process, speak to your volunteer coordinator, and engage your community with your current needs and open volunteer positions in the shelter.
Another thing that's mentioned in the article is to create a recruitment video. I can't tell you how helpful this was for me when I was looking for a Veterinarian at a shelter I was running. It doesn't take long to create and you can record it right from your phone. A good recruitment video should be short and sweet, but relaying how important of a job it is and how the person watching could help make a difference. This is a powerful recruiting tool that I've seen work first hand.
Third thing I have is workplace culture. As you know, it's hard to find people right now. The last thing you want is to finally get someone but they end up leaving quickly because the culture of the organization is off. I know it's tough, trust me. Stress levels run high in animal welfare. When people are stressed, culture can take a hit, but it doesn't have to. Right now, possibly more than ever, it's so important to take care of your team. Take the time to meet with them, share words of encouragement, and celebrate EVERY win, no matter how big or small. If it's in the budget, a pizza party never hurt anyone either. The thing about short staffing is that it can leave employees feeling alone and that they have to do this all by themself. Knowing that, do everything you can to help them see and feel that you are ALL in this together and that you're there for them.
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Michael Bricker
CSO & Director of Care Centers
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People Management Specialist
Adoptions and Adoption Programs Specialist
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Original Message:
Sent: 08-18-2021 12:45 PM
From: raya greenbaum
Subject: Getting Out of the Staffing Shortage Rut
Released today, this week's Best Friends Network editorial discusses the staff shortage issue many animal welfare organizations are facing across the country. It highlights the results from a recent staffing-shortage survey and poses questions on how to analyze your strategies and expand efforts.
#OrganizationalManagement
#PeopleManagement(includingVolunteerIntegration)
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raya greenbaum
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