Employers / News and insights

Stress free staffing, the final frontier: supplier relationships and communication

by Jennifer Teese

Stress free staffing, the final frontier: supplier relationships and communication

So it’s the final blog in our stress free staffing campaign – not sure who’s more devastated, you or us? Over the past year, we’ve tackled the industry headaches that keep hiring managers up at night. From candidate quality to compliance conundrums, attrition to pricing and everything in between, we’ve been there, done that, and (politely) told those stress points where to go.

This month? It’s a big one. Possibly the big one: supplier relationships and communication. Because if you’re constantly chasing info, repeating yourself, or wondering if your recruitment partner even remembers your site layout – it might be time for a rethink.

When supplier relationships don’t work, you feel it

Updates get missed, issues drag on, and the small stuff snowballs. If your agency’s just sending drivers to fill shifts without understanding the bigger picture, that’s not a partnership – it’s box-ticking. And if you’re constantly repeating instructions or picking up the slack, it quickly starts to feel more like hassle than help.

But when the relationship clicks, everything changes. Communication is seamless and things run more smoothly because your supplier actually gets it. They understand your peaks, your expectations, and how things operate day to day – and they deliver accordingly.

 Why communication counts

When communication’s missing, it shows. You’re often left in the dark, double-checking what’s been actioned, and stepping in to keep things on track. It slows everything down and leaves you doing more hand-holding than you signed up for. And if it feels this disjointed on your side, chances are it’s no better for the workers on the ground – confused candidates, unclear expectations, and radio silence after interviews don’t exactly point to a well-oiled machine.

When it works, it makes all the difference. It’s not just about routine reports – it’s about staying in sync, spotting red flags early, and stepping in before problems spiral, whether it’s peak season or just a regular Tuesday.

Our values make the difference

Strong client relationships aren’t built on guesswork. They need clear standards and consistent follow-through. We’re driven to deliver – staying proactive, fixing problems fast, and keeping you in the loop without you needing to chase. We stay focused on solutions by asking the right questions and tailoring our approach to how your operation really works, not just how many heads you need. And we believe in respectful relationships, built on honest conversations, approachable people, and full transparency – no jargon, no drama, just solid support that protects your business.

Time for an agency partner review?

If your partner’s making life harder than it needs to be, it might be time for a review. Ask yourself:

  • Am I getting timely and transparent updates?
  • Does my provider really understand my business?
  • Are problems resolved quickly and openly?

If the answer to any of those is no, maybe it’s time to try a different approach. Ready for stress free staffing? Let’s talk.