As football season approaches, many venues are starting to think about venue staffing solutions that work. Many already have a small core of W-2 event staff members who fill important roles. Often, those professionals aren’t enough to meet the demands of event staffing during football season.
You may have already used gig apps to fill short-term positions. How well did that really work? Were customers satisfied, or were they unhappy that they had to wait an extra half hour because one of your gig workers failed to show?
Partnering with a stadium staffing agency gives you a more reliable way to create enjoyable experiences while minimizing costs. Keep reading to learn more about why it makes sense to find an on-site event staffing partner instead of relying on gig apps.
The Four-Hour Problem
Football season creates a lot of labor demands that you don’t find in other situations. With football season, you have to compress a lot of tasks into just four hours. And the pressure doesn’t end there. As the season stretches on for months, some of your short-term staff members will get tired or decide they don’t want to work.
It isn’t surprising that some people quit. Football games create high-pressure environments where workers have to respond quickly without making mistakes. You end up with stressful, compressed labor spikes that don’t match typical shift-based demand.
The game might only take a few hours, but you and your staff have a lot to accomplish during that time. Every no-show is a customer service failure that impacts your venue, the teams, and the fans who want to enjoy the game.
What Gig Apps Promise, and What They Don’t Deliver
App-based venue staffing solutions often claim they can resolve this problem by giving you access to more workers. If some people burn out, you can replace them with other gig workers.
But there’s a big difference between filling a shift and filling a role. Sure, an app can get someone to your venue on time, but you have to accept anyone who shows up. Do these people know how to do their jobs properly? Or are they standing around looking unsure about their roles?
This is one of the biggest gig app staffing risks. With an on-site event staffing partner, you can work together to make a list of required skills for each position. If you have any roles that require special skills, you can choose a stadium staffing agency with a wide network or a training program.
The Compliance Blind Spot
Choosing a trusted on-site event staffing partner could also help you comply with employment regulations, including how you classify staff members.
Gig apps typically give you access to independent contractors. There are questions, though, about whether the people working at your football venue are truly independent contractors. If they are independent, you don’t have control over their scheduling and payment, per U.S. Department of Labor guidance on worker classification. Independent contractors get to set their own hours and rates. That rarely works for venues because football games start and end at specific times.
Using a staffing agency can help you avoid this and other regulatory challenges. For example, you could work with an agency that employs W-2 event staff. Those agencies have part-time and full-time employees on their payrolls, so they can require workers to show up at predetermined times. They can also set appropriate wages, so you don’t need to negotiate prices with everyone working at your venue.
The Local Advantage
Using a local staffing agency also gives you a big advantage. Gig apps can give job opportunities to practically anyone, including people passing through your area. Some workers love the ability to earn money while they travel, but that situation also means you don’t build relationships with individuals who will come to your football venue repeatedly.
With a local agency, you can build relationships, learn where certain people thrive, and potentially use a temp-to-hire process for long-term employment.
Looking for a staffing partner that combines local reach with W-2 accountability? Reach out to a HireQuest location near you to learn more about finding professionals who can help you make this football season successful.
FAQ
How does HireQuest Direct avoid the no-show problem that gig apps create?
We employ W-2 event staff instead of relying on independent contractors, so workers are accountable to a schedule. If someone can’t make a shift, your local office works to get a replacement in place instead of leaving you short.
Does HireQuest Direct help venues stay compliant with worker classification rules?
Yes. Because our workers are W-2 employees, not gig-app independent contractors, venues avoid the classification risk tied to setting schedules and pay rates for people the law may consider employees.
Can HireQuest Direct staff specialized event-day roles, not just general positions?
Yes. We work with venues to define required skills for each role and can draw on a wider network as well as training resources for positions that need more than a general assignment.
Does working with a local office matter for repeat events like a football season?
Yes. A local agency builds relationships with the same workers over a season, so you get people who already know your venue instead of a rotating pool of strangers every game. What’s more, when there’s a mishap on gameday, your local staffing office can be on-site solving problems, rather than leaving you holding the ball.
Can HireQuest Direct support a temp-to-hire path for standout event staff?
Yes. If a worker performs well across a season, your local office can help move them toward a longer-term or permanent role with your venue.
