Workforce Management Featured Article
Red Cross Hiring Call Center Temps in Louisville for Harvey Relief
Seeing the mass devastation Hurricane Harvey left in its wake, along with the overwhelming call volumes from residents seeking assistance, the Louisville American Red Cross realized it needed more staffing than it currently had in place. In order to effectively assist callers and provide a sense of comfort and relief, the center held a job fair on Wednesday, September 6, seeking agents who would be willing to work first or second shifts for about thirty days.
This time period could be extended based on the severity of the damage and influx of calls but, the Red Cross center quickly understood that being short-staffed was not an option. The organization’s mission statement clearly states that it “prevents and alleviates human suffering in the face of emergencies by mobilizing the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors.”
To ensure the highest quality of service, those who applied for these temporary positions had to have certain qualifications, such as: computer data entry skills, excellent customer service, at least six months customer service experience in an office setting, and know how to input information efficiently and correctly into the computer database.
Appropriately skilled agents – along with an effective workforce management solution -- will allow the Lousiville call center to function as smoothly as possible in a time of need – and very high call volume. The acknowledgment by the Red Cross that more needed to be employed only reaffirms its dedication to serving those in need.
Unfortunately, with Irma leaving its own trail of destruction, the Red Cross’ capabilities will likely be put to an even greater test.
Edited by Erik Linask