Making Temps Part of the Team
Admittedly, hiring temporary employees eases
the pain of staffing up for a busy seasonal
period, and the strategy can also work well as
an effective way to give potential new
employees a trial period. However, companies
should follow some staffing guidelines, or their
solution to a temporary crunch can backfire,
leading to long-term productivity issues.
The problem typically lies with the failure to embrace temporary
workers as a critical part of the business. "Companies often never take
the time to orient temps or make them feel welcome and part of a
team," says Susan Heathfield, owner of Heathfield Consulting
Associates, a Williamstown, MI, management consulting firm, and the
editor of the human resource site on About.com, a New York Times
company. "When you don't take the time to welcome someone into the
company, you never tap into the majority of their motivation and discretionary
effort. They always feel like a second-class citizen."
To counter that problem, Heathfield recommends businesses welcome temps and orient them
to the company just as they would if they were making a permanent hire. That means giving
temps the same basic information on work expectations, culture, and training—and anything
else that may be appropriate.
It's also critical to include current employees in the process. Ask employees how they
might benefit from temporary help and be clear about why there's a need for this kind of
worker to allay potential fears about job loss. Planning is also key. Having a designated
employee assigned to coordinating the temp will ensure more efficient output, as will having
the proper resources (such as a phone and a computer) at the ready so the temp can be
productive upon arrival.
Finally, cultivating a good relationship with a temporary agency is essential for a smooth
hiring process. The agency is responsible for the recruiting and screening process and if
they know your requirements, they can actually facilitate the hiring and do so cost-effectively
as well. "Small businesses are generally terrible at hiring, whereas with a temporary
agency, that's all they do," Heathfield says. "Given the number of hours it takes to hire an
employee, using an agency can save time and money." BA
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