Have you noticed that your team is no longer keeping up with the workload, even though everyone is fully committed? Deadlines are approaching, projects are overlapping, and your employees seem increasingly tired and less efficient. You've tried redistributing tasks, maybe even postponing some, but you still feel like something’s missing: people who can quickly and efficiently take some of the pressure off — even if just for a limited time. It might be the right moment to consider a solution you may have overlooked: staff leasing. leasingul de personal.
According to a 2023 study by McKinsey & Company, 59% of European managers say their teams are overworked and operating at full capacity. At the same time, 34% of employees say they would consider changing jobs due to excessive workload. In this context, staff leasing solutions are gaining popularity, as they offer immediate, flexible support without the administrative burden.
In Romania, staff leasing is still a concept met with some hesitation, and at times, the signs that you might need this service can easily be overlooked. Here are 10 signs you may need staff leasing—even if you haven’t realized it yet.
1. You have major fluctuations in workload, but can’t commit to permanent hires
Some months are calm, while others feel like you're handling a year's worth of work in just a few weeks. Seasonal spikes, promotional campaigns, tourism peaks, newly awarded contracts, or production surges can all throw your team off balance. But constant hiring and layoffs aren’t a sustainable solution—they're draining for everyone and can lead to legal and workplace issues.
Staff leasing gives you the flexibility to scale your team up or down based on demand—without the long-term commitment of permanent hires. You save time, energy, and maintain agility.
61% of European companies use flexible work arrangements to manage seasonality, according to a 2023 Deloitte study. Deloitte 2023).
2. You’re struggling to find the right people—fast
If you have open roles that remain unfilled for too long, you're already losing money. In Romania, the average recruitment process can take up to 45 days or more. But when you need people fast—whether it’s for production, retail, office work, or hospitality—staff leasing can be the fastest, most efficient option.
A staffing agency has access to a pool of pre-vetted, ready-to-work candidates and can often deliver in just a few days. Instead of waiting weeks or months, you can have a complete team in place almost immediately.
While the average time to fill a role is 5 to 8 weeks, staff leasing can reduce that to under 7 days, according to a recent study by a Romanian recruitment platform.
3. Your team is overwhelmed
When your team is constantly working overtime, productivity takes a hit and burnout becomes a real risk. Chronic fatigue doesn’t just affect employee wellbeing—it can lower work quality, damage internal relationships, and hurt your company’s reputation.
Staff leasing helps distribute the workload more evenly, ease the pressure on your core team, and prevent burnout. It’s not just an operational fix—it’s a way to support organizational health.
28% of European employees say they’d change jobs due to poor work-life balance, according to a 2022 McKinsey report.
4. You’re Dealing with Frequent Absenteeism or Sick Leave
When team members are often on leave—especially sick leave—it can seriously disrupt project planning, particularly when deadlines are tight. If you’re frequently left with temporarily unfilled roles, you risk losing both time and clients.
Staff leasing allows you to bring in temporary workers for just a few days or weeks, exactly when and where you need them, helping you maintain a stable workflow.
5. You Don’t Have a Recruitment Team or Time for Hiring
Recruitment isn’t just about posting a job ad. It involves a full process: screening candidates, conducting interviews, handling contracts, paperwork, payroll, and more. If you don’t have a dedicated HR team—or simply lack the time—staff leasing is an efficient way to outsource the entire effort.
A staffing agency takes care of everything, and you get the right people, ready to start immediately.
Small businesses spend up to 30% of management time on HR-related admin tasks, according to an SHRM report.
6. You Work on Short-Term or Unpredictable Projects
Do you have a three-month contract? A pilot project that could end at any time? In these cases, hiring full-time employees on permanent contracts may not make financial or operational sense. The risks and costs are too high.
Staff leasing gives you the flexibility to bring in talent just for the duration of the project—no long-term commitments. And if the project gets extended, you can easily renew the contract or even transition to a direct hire.
7. You Want to Avoid Legal Risks Tied to Employment
One mistake in a contract, a delay in submitting paperwork, or a poorly handled termination can result in significant penalties. With staff leasing, the legal employer is the leasing agency—they take on all legal, payroll, and administrative responsibilities.
Most fines they issue relate to missing contracts and payroll irregularities, according to the Labor Inspectorate.
8. You Want to Test Candidates Before Making a Permanent Hire
Not every candidate is the right fit for your company culture or pace of work. The try & hire model allows you to work with employees on a temporary basis, without the commitment of a full-time hire. If they’re a good fit, you can bring them on permanently. If not, the collaboration ends smoothly and hassle-free. It’s an ideal solution for key roles, where compatibility is just as important as experience.
9. You Need Flexible and Predictable Costs
In an uncertain economic climate, fixed salaries can become a burden. Staff leasing turns these into variable, transparent, and controllable expenses.
48% of European CFOs prefer variable workforce cost structures during times of uncertainty, according to KPMG’s 2023 report.
10. You Want to Focus on Business, Not Bureaucracy
Every hour spent reviewing contracts, documents, and HR procedures is an hour taken away from strategy, sales, and business growth. Staff leasing lets you delegate all these administrative tasks, so you can focus your energy where it truly matters.
Staff Leasing Isn’t a Compromise — It’s a Strategy
If you identified with at least three of the situations above, staff leasing is no longer just an option — it’s a smart, strategic solution for a healthy and adaptable business. Smartemp brings 13 years of experience in Romania and partners with multinational companies to deliver flexible workforce solutions.
Why Work with Smartemp
✅ Fast delivery – We quickly identify the right candidates based on your requested profile and local availability
✅ Zero administrative stress – We fully handle recruitment, contracts, timekeeping, and payroll
✅ 100% legal compliance – Everything is managed in full alignment with Romanian labor laws
✅ Maximum flexibility – Short-term, mid-term, or direct-hire collaboration options
✅ True specialization – We have hands-on experience across all major industries
✅ Complete transparency – No hidden fees, unclear clauses, or surprise commission
Request a customized offer at office@smartemp.ro
Sources:
Deloitte Global Human Capital Trends 2023 – deloitte.com
McKinsey – “Addressing employee burnout” – mckinsey.com
SHRM – Small Business HR Administration Report – shrm.org
KPMG Global CEO Outlook 2023 – home.kpmg
Read also:
https://smartemp.ro/2025/06/16/smartemp-costuri-prin-leasingul-de-personal/