Q: How do I know when to hire additional employees?

A: Balancing your company workload with available staff can be challenging. Especially, in industries that experience natural highs and lows of demand. You don’t want to hire unnecessarily for a short-term fix. Nor do you want to miss opportunities due to lack of staffing. Consider these factors to make informed hiring decisions:

■  Head the warning sign of missed deadlines. Inadequate staffing levels can cause serious production delays. It may be time to staff up.
■  Watch for employee burnout. An increase in sick time taken, health insurance claims, and leave of absences may indicate an overworked staff.
■  Don’t compromise quality. Bring in fresh talent if you notice an overtired workforce increasingly making mistakes.
■  Inventory your staff. Make sure you have appropriate talent on hand to stay in the running if a big opportunity comes your way.