Welcome to Warehouse and Operations as a Career, I\u2019m Marty, everyone having a prosperous and productive week? We\u2019ve been discussing how there\u2019s so many ways to break into the operations fields, all the different get our foot in the door positions and how we can target our employers or the companies we\u2019d like to work with, capitalizing on our career goals. Something that came up this week was those gig apps out there. Something relatively new but you\u2019ve probably heard someone talking about them. Basically, you download an app that employers post job assignments on. Usually for fill in or special assignment tasks that they need someone to work a day or two, maybe on something where little to no training is involved. They just have some things that need to get done. We\u2019re seeing them branch out into general labor assignments now too. I think the warehousing industry is starting to recognize them, I know of a couple of facilities experimenting with them for Unloaders, pallet runners and even order selectors! Of course, as with anything new, it\u2019ll take a while to collect enough data to see how efficient the program is going to work out, but it sounds like a good idea right? Last week we talked about the importance of part time positions, how they fit a lot of us, the employees needs and how profitable they can be for our employers as well. Maybe these gig assignments can carry those efficiencies to the next step?
\nWhile out and about, just checking in on different operations, I asked around a bit, just bringing the subject up in conversation with front line supervisors and leads. I did the same with the next level of management, managers, directors and vice presidents and surprisingly I received two different opinions on them. The front-line teams really saw no interest in them, at all, at first. Now its important we remember these are the guys and gals that are responsible for getting things done, the doors closed every day and all the training that goes along with a new boot on the floor. The first things I heard were concerns with productivity, errors and safety. Their question was how we are supposed to spent time on an orientation, going over all the safety procedures and company rules with an employee that is brought in knowing they are not looking for full time employment and may only be with us for a day or two. Valid points, but we\u2019ll come back to that in a moment!
\nNow the managers, directors and vice presidents all found interest with the idea and wanted to know a little more about the different programs out there. And think about it, on the surface there\u2019s quite a few pros with the idea. Something like this may be great for when an associate calls in sick, simply post to the app that you need someone for the day, a prescreened and qualified, task experienced person clicks accept and is at your facility within the hour! Or say you have a special assignment, something like moving some racking around or recalibrating the available cube with a lot of slots and just need someone to raise or lower a lot of cross bars. Post the job on the app and someone that has done that type of work before clicks accept and shows up for the shift the next day. Both scenarios we just mentioned are temporary needs. Wouldn\u2019t the app be a great tool to have, and be more efficient than using a temp agency? And I heard quite a bit from them regarding cost, everyone of them wanted to know more about how the billing worked, rates and wages, those kinds of things.
\nAnd what about us as employees? Well, we all need to work. Like we discussed last week we could have other responsibilities that prevent us from working a full-time job. Or sometimes we just need a little part time position to fill in too many off hours. Maybe we can only work on the weekends. These new gig jobs or app jobs may be perfect to fill those needs. Regarding the two examples we just talked about,