Whatever your reason for bringing them on board, there are lots of good things that can happen when you hire temp workers for your organization:
- Workplace flexibility
- Time & cost savings
- Less stress for permanent employees
- Greater productivity
- Access to new talent & skills
Pretty good list, right? Just as there are many great benefits to hiring temp workers, there can also be pitfalls – but only if you don’t properly assimilate them into your organization and set them up for success.
If you have what is sometimes called a ‘blended work group’ – staff consisting of both temporary and permanent employees – follow these steps to successfully integrate the two groups. The end result – happy and productive team players all around!
#1 – Train Well
A successful integration of new hires with permanent staff requires effective onboarding and training.
Welcome your new employees with open arms. Give them a tour of the workplace and introduce them to their coworkers and management. Make sure they’re up to speed on standard HR policies and procedures (hours, dress code, attendance policy, etc.) and they know who to reach out to with questions or concerns.
Make sure your new team members are properly trained for the job they were hired for. Someone visiting your workplace shouldn’t be able to tell the difference between a temporary employee and a regular employee.
Make sure your new team members are properly trained for the job they were hired for. Someone visiting your workplace shouldn’t be able to tell the difference between a temporary employee and a regular employee.
If a staffing agency is helping you bring temp workers on board, make sure your training and onboarding efforts are coordinated and everyone knows their roles and responsibilities when getting your new team up and running.
#2 – Show Respect
A temporary employee should be treated with the same level of respect as any other worker in your organization.
First, make sure your regular staff is aware that new hires are joining the team, so they can welcome them and understand the value they’re bringing to the table.
Show appreciation for your new hires and the work they’re doing. Respond to their questions so they feel like one of the team. And don’t refer to them as temps or contractors. Although the term is accurate, calling them out by a certain name can make them feel isolated from permanent staff.
Another way to show respect to your new hires is to include them on any notifications about internal job vacancies. If you have a job board or intranet that publishes job openings and other important workplace news, give them access to those helpful resources.
#3 – Get Feedback
Checking in regularly with your temp workers is a smart way to ensure they’re staying on track and performing well with the rest of the team. It will also help reduce their stress level and keep them productive and happy.
If a new hire provides feedback – whether good or bad – acknowledge their input and valuable insights and take action if needed. If they feel like their questions, concerns and ideas are being heard and appreciated, they’ll be a better worker for you.
If the use of temp workers sounds like a strategy that could benefit your organization, contact A.R. Mazzotta. Our temporary/contract staffing services deliver successful matches and meet today’s most complex workforce demands.