When the workload grows, the temptation to hire straight away is understandable. But it is a decision with a significant and lasting financial effect, and it is worth working that effect out beforehand rather than judging it by feel.
The full cost to the business, not the take-home pay
What a new worker costs the business includes contributions, severance provision and the extra monthly instalments — a total that can be appreciably higher than the net pay the worker receives. Working out that full employment cost, not just the figure agreed in the contract, is the first step to an informed decision.
Added hours and their effect on hourly cost
A new worker increases the productive hours available, but also spreads fixed costs across a wider base — an effect that can slightly lower your overall hourly cost, provided the new worker is genuinely kept busy.
The risk of under-use
If the workload that prompted the hire turns out to be temporary or overestimated, the new fixed cost still has to be covered every month, pushing the hourly cost the wrong way. Before hiring, it is worth judging whether the extra load is structural or simply a temporary peak that could be handled another way.