How to Staff a Peak Season in the GTA: A Practical Timeline

The way to staff a peak season in the GTA is to forecast your headcount early, brief an agency before you need people, plan onboarding for the first shift and keep a small reserve for the busiest weeks. Warehouses in the fall and construction and landscaping firms in summer compete for the same pool of workers at the same time, so the businesses that plan earliest fill roles with the least stress.

This guide gives you a practical timeline, the questions to settle before the rush and the mistakes that cost the most.

Why peak season is hard to staff

• Every employer in the same part of the GTA is hiring at the same time
• Good people are already placed by the time the rush starts
• New workers need training, boots and a safe start, which takes time you do not have in the busiest weeks
• Sick calls and no-shows hit harder when you are short already

A practical timeline

1. Six to eight weeks before: forecast how many people you need, for which shifts and for how long. Use last year’s volume as a starting point and adjust it.
2. Four to six weeks before: brief your agency with roles, shifts, start dates, site rules and any certificates required. Tell it if you plan to convert temps to permanent.
3. Two to three weeks before: confirm names, plan orientation and book equipment training. Order PPE if you supply it.
4. First week: run a short, structured orientation. Pair new workers with an experienced one on the first shifts.
5. During the peak: review attendance weekly and top up early rather than late.

Your agency can often fill common roles within a day or two when you need to. A rush order still goes better with warning.

Which roles to fill with temps

• Warehouse associates, pickers, packers and loaders for volume spikes. See warehouse staffing.
• Forklift operators and drivers to keep goods moving. See forklift operator staffing and driver staffing.
• General labourers for construction, landscaping and moving. See general labour staffing.
• Production workers for line capacity. See manufacturing staffing.

Plan the first shift

1. Safety orientation: hazards, exits, who to ask, how to report an injury
2. Equipment training on your trucks, racking or machines
3. Clear instructions on shift times, breaks, parking and who supervises
4. PPE and boots confirmed before day one

Training on your equipment is your responsibility even when a worker arrives with a certificate. See who pays WSIB, vacation and holiday pay for temp workers for where the agency’s role ends and yours begins.

Keep a reserve

Sick calls, no-shows and slower starters are normal in the first weeks. Ask your agency to keep a few extra workers available for the busiest days, rather than waiting until you are short.

Think about conversion early

Peak season is a good time to see who is worth keeping. Tell the agency up front which roles you might want to fill permanently, and agree the terms before the first shift. Read temp vs temp-to-hire vs direct hire and temp-to-hire and permanent staffing.

Mistakes that cost the most

• Waiting until the rush starts to call an agency
• Vague requests with no start date, shifts or site rules
• Skipping orientation because you are busy
• Booking exactly the headcount you need, with no reserve
• Unclear terms for hiring a good temp

Common questions

How early should I contact an agency?

As early as you can. Several weeks ahead is ideal, and common roles can often be filled faster when you need to.

Can I add workers mid-season?

Usually yes. Tell your agency what to expect so it can plan, especially for night shifts and skilled roles.

Do temps work nights and weekends?

Many do. Say so in your brief so the agency finds people who want those shifts.

What areas do you cover?

We serve Toronto and the GTA from our Concord office. See areas we serve.

Planning a rush? Tell us your roles, shifts and start date.