Augmenting EHS Staff without Increasing Headcount

Sometimes an extra set of capable hands can make all the difference. Thanks to the war for talent in the EHS (Environmental, Health and Safety) and Sustainability industry, finding the most talented employees is harder than ever. Add in reduced hiring budgets and consistent pressure to do more with less to improve your organization’s bottom line, and finding the right people at the right time can be almost impossible. 

In this type of work landscape, how can organizations augment their EHS staff without increasing headcount? By turning to a contingent worker source such as our global EHS Staffing and Talent Resourcing Solution. This model of solving temporary yet critical needs has been popular for over five years, providing clients with workers of all experience levels to address any number of circumstances from urgent events to years-long planned endeavors.  

We’ll walk through some of the roles that can be filled using EHS Staffing Solutions, while highlighting a few examples and scenarios where organizations might need to augment staffing with RaaS. 

Check out the full original blog from our Associate Antea Group USA.

How EHS Staffing Works 

Long a staple in the tech industry, the practice of utilizing a contingent workforce is spilling over into other sectors that require highly specialized, uniquely skilled professionals for shorter-term engagements. 

When businesses need some extra hands-on expertise, they’ll effectively “rent” select employees from an established firm to come and work on a temporary basis. This allows companies to sidestep the often-costly process of finding, screening, and recruiting new hires when their situation may call for a more temporary and/or specialized type of help.

For many companies, this can be an ideal set-up. EHS Staffing assignments are completely flexible in terms of both scope of work and length of engagement. A company may need a professional with 10+ years of experience to manage and lead EHS or Sustainability initiatives, or it may need a few employees for day-to-day tactical work. 

When a business needs to augment their workforce without increasing headcount, they engage employees on a contract basis using our EHS Staffing solution. The resource that is brought on to serve an organization is an actual experienced employee from one of our global Associates. 

Our Associates will work with organizations to clarify details of engagement, such as days-per-week and length of service. They will also ensure the resource fits within the hiring organization’s workplace culture in the interest of fast rapport and an effective working relationship.  

In-Action Examples:

• EHS Talent Contracted for a Global Technology Client in 18 countries

• On-Site RaaS Health and Safety Support for Alternative Meat Company

   

When to Utilize EHS Staffing On Demand

Every region, industry, and organization has its own specific set of needs for augmenting EHS and Sustainability staff. These are a few of the more common scenarios. 

Urgent events 

COVID created an urgent, global need for EHS and Sustainability solutions. Other events such as natural disasters or industrial incidents present the need for a sudden and rapid upscaling of EHS teams. For example, summers filled with wildfires are becoming more and more common, and that leaves organizations seeking EHS staff to address issues with wildfire smoke and evacuation plans.  

War for Talent-fueled staffing challenges 

As mentioned above, competition for the right talent is stiffer than ever. Many EHS departments are understaffed and overworked. These situations can be alleviated by hiring employees on a temporary basis.  

Business transitions 

Times of transition within an organization create specific needs for additional EHS staff.  

Start-ups benefit from knowledgeable staff who can get their organization running with as little disruption as possible in the EHS space. Business mergers and acquisitions often require increased staff to assist with changes in facilities use, procedure documentation, and training programs.  

Facility changes 

Large-scale physical projects require specialized EHS expertise. Facility construction and closures are two ends of a spectrum that both present unique needs and challenges.  

Construction projects might require an expanded safety staff to ensure compliance with national and local regulations on worksites. These staff may also consult with clients to ensure safety is properly considered in the overall facility design.  

Closures of facilities that produced or utilized hazardous materials require a very specific EHS skill set. These experts are limited in number worldwide, and it can take an organization a long time to locate the talent they need through their own searches. In this instance, employee augmentation means having expedited access to a proven expert or team of specialists who can confidently take on a project of that scale.  

Key Benefits of EHS Staffing: 

The benefits of EHS Staffing Solutions include: 

• Flexible, agile, fit-for-purpose support. Bring in any level of EHS and Sustainability expertise without the challenges of an arduous hiring process or the long-term financial commitment of bringing in a full-time employee. 
• Quick-to-implement solutions.  Assignments are usually filled in a matter of weeks, and when needed, sometimes within days. 
• Have help when you need it. The ability to “transition out” the employee is as important as being able to quickly “transition in.” Needs can change and releasing an employee back to the employer organization means keeping someone working, even in a tough time. 

Check out our EHS Staffing and Talent Resourcing service if you are looking for support for your company!

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