Hire Based on Math

Hiring decisions require data, not vibes. Track missed deadlines, consistent overtime, and repeated employee stress signals over at least several weeks before deciding you’re actually understaffed. 

If jobs are shipping on time and no one is routinely staying late, the workload is likely temporary and does not justify adding payroll. Use a simple log of hours worked, rush orders, and internal bottlenecks to identify real patterns. Hire only when the pattern persists.