Make the Most of Temporary Workers

03/06/07

Here’s how to ensure temporary workers are productive:

1. Make sure you have enough work for temps to do. That should go without saying, but most temps can tell you that they sometimes sit around wondering what to do next. And idle temps demoralize your busy, full-time workers.

2. Use temps judiciously. Don’t hire them just because everyone is overloaded. Take the time to analyze the problem. Make sure bringing in a temp is a better solution than hiring a full-time worker or redistributing/restructuring the workload.
Best bet #1: Hire temps with specific skills—like accounting—and have a to-do list ready when they arrive.
Best bet #2: Hire temps to fill essential positions temporarily vacated by people on medical leave or lengthy vacations.

3. Make the temp feel at home. Provide a warm greeting and brief orientation. Introduce the person to those he or she will be working with. Point out unique work-site policies and safety rules. Provide job-specific training, if necessary.

4. Outline your expectations. If you’ve hired a “pair of hands” rather than specific skills, explain the work to be done and the most efficient way of doing it.

5. Make sure someone is available to answer questions or offer guidance. Don’t leave temps unsupervised for hours at a time unless you are certain they won’t need help.

6. Provide feedback. Watch the temp’s output carefully, especially at the beginning of the work period. Catch problems early. Even if things are going well, offer encouragement and positive reinforcement. Doing so ensures temps feel needed and wanted—and thus more inclined to do their best for you.

7. Be careful. In the eyes of the law, you’re a co-employer of the temp with the staffing agency. Nonetheless, consider temporary workers in the employ of the agency. That means you don’t discipline them, include them in bonus programs, or let them use company credit cards. If you do, you may find yourself obligated to provide benefits, pay taxes, or both.