When companies need extra help, many turn to temporary employees. Whether you require additional people during the holidays, or you need to expand your staff for a special project, temporary employees are the perfect solution.
The problem? Some organizations find that temporary employees are not as engaged as their permanent staff. How can you, as a leader, ensure that your short-term staff is motivated to perform at their peak? Here are some ideas:
Hire the right people
You need people with skills to get the job done, but culture fit is just as (if not more) important. Skills can be taught, but fitting in with your team can’t. Focus on finding people who have the right soft skills, like communication and the ability to work with a team, rather than concentrating too much on hard skills.
Have an onboarding process
Just like your full-time employees, your temporary workers need an onboarding process. Properly onboarding employees leads to better job performance and greater employee engagement. Be prepared with a training program before your temp starts. Ensure they have access to every resource they will need to do the job right. Teach them your company’s goals and values. With a proper plan in place, you will set your temporary employees up for success.
Make them part of the team
Though they are only with you for a limited time, you need to do all you can to make your temporary employees feel welcome. Some organizations tend to separate temporary employees from the rest of their staff. This is a huge mistake, leading to unengaged and unmotivated temps. Don’t exclude your temporary employees. Invite them to events and meetings. If you’re doing a team building event, include them. You could even pair them with a full-time employee for the first few weeks to help integrate them into your team. A temporary employee will perform much better when they feel like part of the team.
Show appreciation
A simple thank you can go a long way. Make sure your temporary employees know that you appreciate the work they are doing. If they feel like their job isn’t important, their performance will suffer.
Need to hire a temp? Morgan Hunter can help.
Finding a stellar temp can be tough. Make it easier when you work with Morgan Hunter. We have relationships with many of the best temporary employees in the Kansas City area. If you’re interested in learning more about our temp and temp-to-hire staffing services, contact us today.
