Part-time staff or freelance? You can get the best of both worlds.

7 Jul 2022

Part-time work has always been at the heart of our industry, but the instability of cafe life over the last few years has meant that, more than ever, cafe owners are engaging with freelance workers. If one of your part-time workers pulls out of a shift at the last minute, or your full time staff are all unavailable at the same time, being able to tap into a freelance work-pool can really save the day, and take the pressure off the team.

What is a freelance worker?

While part-time staff are those who do not have any fixed hours or commitments to a certain amount of hours per week with their employer, freelance staff are self employed. They contract their time out to different cafes, and can have an arrangement with a cafe for a single shift or a certain period of time. 

Why not just use casual employees?

  • Uncertainty around rosters

    Because part-time staff don’t have set hours or roles, it is often difficult to plan weeks or months ahead. You could fix this by having permanent full time staff, but then if demand drops you are stuck with an over-rostered week or month. If you know that you can tap into a talent pool of freelancers at any time, you can still plan ahead with how many staff you want on a shift, and then tap into your freelance pool of favourites when you need them.

  • Sometimes needing to find last minute replacements

    No matter how watertight your planning is, sometimes things just happen - if your usual staff pull out at the last minute or your core staff all fall sick at the same time, you need to be able to fill those shifts asap!

  • Specialised skill sets In the cafe industry you really never know what kind of day is going to be around the corner. And while you can try to have a staff pool that covers all your bases, if you are looking for ultimate flexibility and a wider net of talent, freelancers like those on Need a Barista are the most flexible option on the table.

What are the benefits of freelance cafe staff?

Here’s why our cafe partners find freelance workers to be the life-force of their businesses.

  • Responsive Rostering

    If you’re a cafe owner then you know that over the last few years, the cafe industry has been in a bit of a flux (that may be the understatement of the year). And for business owners trying to keep the doors open and the lights on, sometimes that means some creative rostering! Being able to staff for shifts responsively to what is happening in your business or your area at any given time allows cafe owners to not spend unnecessary money on rostering staff when the demand suddenly drops, whether that’s because of the weather, the time of year, or something bigger like lockdowns.

  • No need to pay benefits or sick leave

    Freelance workers usually have a slightly higher hourly rate than permanent staff. With that higher rate they are also responsible for their own benefits, and they don’t get additional sick leave or annual leave. So from a business perspective, you only have to factor in pay for the hours that they work.

  • Access to huge talent pools

    The cafe owners who work with us at Need a Barista have access to huge talent pools. of high quality Baristas, and there are no overhead fees to book a Barista through our platform. And with workers always browsing the site for new gigs, gone are the days of calling around friends of friends to see if someone knows someone who could work!

  • Taking the pressure off the team

    If you’ve worked in our industry before, then you know that it can be incredibly hard to fill shifts last minute. If you fall ill or have something pop up that makes you unable to work, it can be really stressful trying to find someone to replace you. As an employer, if you can reassure your staff that you have backup solutions in mind like a freelance worker, it can really take the pressure off your team.

No two days are the same in the cafe industry, and our cafe partners know that the answer to a unique and dynamic industry is unique and dynamic staff. While casual staff can be an excellent asset to your business, sometimes you’ll find yourself in need of a wide talent pool asap! And that’s where our job board can save the day. Instant connections with the best baristas in the business, so you can rest easy knowing no matter what the day throws at you, you can find a solution.