How to Ensure Your Temporary Employees Hit the Ground Running
January 26th, 2010Using temporary employees is a great way to improve productivity without increasing your overhead. However, as with any new hire, there are ways you can maximize their contributions and ensure that they hit the ground running. Here’s how:
Know what you want.
Before using temporary employees, have a clear set of expectations in mind. Create a list of the tasks to be performed, the skills required, and the results you expect. Also, if you’re working with a staffing agency, make sure they understand and communicate those expectations to the temporary employees.
Prepare your staff.
Clearly explain to your full-time staff why you are using temporary employees. The last thing you want is for your core staff to view the temporaries as a threat. Open communication is the best way to encourage cooperation.
Provide an orientation.
Make sure that temporary employees feel welcome on their first day. Prepare their workspace before they arrive and know what you want them to accomplish each day. Also, give them a tour of your facility. Be sure to introduce them to the people they’ll be working with and to the on-site supervisors who can answer any questions they might have.
Communicate frequently.
Check in with temporary employees regularly to ensure they understand what they’re supposed to be doing.
Create a positive work environment.
Invite temporary employees to regular team meetings, parties, and events that occur while they’re on the job so they feel included.
Give feedback.
Let your staffing agency know about a temporary employee’s job performance. If the employee is doing a great job, then you may want to request them again in the future. If the temporary employee is doing a poor job, then notify your staffing agency immediately to request a replacement.
If you’re interested in using temporary employees to boost productivity, please contact Provisional Staffing. As the premier recruiting and staffing agency serving the Washington and Northern Idaho marketplaces, we can find and deliver the quality temporary employees you need for positions in Accounting & Finance, Law, Healthcare, Administration, and IT.
