Seasonal jobs are temporary jobs that only arise for a company’s temporary needs during particular times of the year. In this article, we will see about ‘Seasonal Jobs’.
What causes the need for Seasonal Jobs?
1. When a company needs seasonal jobs during a certain season.
2. When a company needs extra help at peak periods of the year.
Types of Companies that Offer Seasonal Jobs
Some various companies or businesses require seasonal employees. They include;
1. Delivery Services
2. Tourism
3. Retail
4. Agriculture
5. Accounting
1. Delivery Services: During the holiday season, restaurants require more staff due to families being home and ordering takeout rather than cooking. The holiday season also gets busier for courier services with in turn leads them to seek seasonal workers
2. Tourism: This occurs mostly during the summer season, leading hotels and restaurants to recruit for temporary jobs like resort workers, lifeguards, or tour guides
3. Retail: Retail Stores often start to get busier during fall and winter periods. Events like Halloween, Black Friday, and Christmas lead to a surge in customers at stores, leaving retain stores to require seasonal staff.
4. Agriculture: Agricultural seasons are often slow and busy. During the busy season, workers would be required for jobs like sowing and harvesting.
5. Accounting: During the tax season which starts in January in the United States, the IRS would be hiring seasonal jobs for people to attend to customers’ calls and inquiries. This helps to ease the load on accountants
How long does a Seasonal Employment Last?
Seasonal jobs are often part-time jobs, although they may result in a full-time position at times. Seasonal workers are often needed for a period of weeks to a couple of months depending on the season and how long the employers need them.
Benefits of Seasonal Jobs for Employers
1. Seasonal Jobs enable employers to recruit staff more smartly.
2. Seasonal jobs keep employees from increased labor costs as the employees are mostly part-time workers, which entitles them to lesser benefits
3. Seasonal jobs are more appropriate ways to get staff to cover for unavailable employees, especially during the holiday season.
Benefits for Seasonal Jobs for Employees
1. it are a great option for unemployed people seeking jobs that can temporarily cover essential payments
2. it can lead to a more permanent job position. It can enhance the employee with skills and experience and strengthen their esteem. Employees often look to employ seasonal workers with an opportunity to make them permanent workers.
3. it also help other people like students or employees looking to get a side job to save extra money.
Disadvantages of Seasonal Jobs
1. it may cause the employees to make lower efforts on the jobs, given the reason that they are employed for only a temporary period
2. There is no required training for seasonal employment from the employers, which would lead to a lack of quality amongst the seasonal staff
3. The terms in seasonal employment are different from that of permanent employment, leading to possible legal issues between the parties.
Are there Laws that Govern Seasonal Jobs?
In the United States, the Fair Labor Standards Act provides regulations covering seasonal jobs. It covers topics on the private sectors and the federal, state, and local governments sectors such as
1. Minimum Wages
2. Payment overtime
3. Youth employment standards
1. Minimum Wages: Employers are instructed to pay seasonal employees at the federal minimum wage level, or at the state or local minimum level depending on the level that offers a higher rate
2. Payment Overtime: Seasonal Employees are entitled to overtime pay if they are working over the required 40 hours in a week. The rates are one and a half times over the regular pay.
3. Youth Employment Standards: Children between the ages of 14-15 years are only required to work for a limited number of hours a week. It only applies to occupations permitted for them. 16-17-year-olds are not given limited hours, but they are not permitted to work in areas that may pose as dangerous, for further guidance, the Secretary of Labor has provided a list of these restricted areas.
Conclusion
they are widely available but they often require the job seekers to ensure they are adequately prepared and ready for the job. It is important to also know your rights as a seasonal worker to avoid confusion down the line.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the maximum length for seasonal employment?
According to the Affordable Care Act, seasonal jobs last six months maximum
2. Are Seasonal Workers Independent Contractors?
Seasonal Workers may not be considered independent contractors because they are working for a shorter time frame. It is also important for employers to revise necessary regulations before classifying them as such
