Despite their crucial role in most American businesses, temporary employees are often treated like disposable cogs. To be fair, it can be hard to develop a personal relationship with employees who will only be around for a short time. Even so, their professional value shouldn’t be underestimated. If you want to boost productivity and get more out of your temps, it’s time to start treating them like full-time members of your team. Here’s how to do it.
Get to know your temps
Your temp workers can bring a lot to the table, but they won’t perform well if they feel like second-class citizens. After hiring a new temp, dedicate some time to get to know them, just as you would with a full-time hire. Getting to know each employee personally will help them feel like part of the team. In fact, you may even uncover some of their hidden skills that could benefit your business.
Include temporary employees in staff meetings
Though some staff meetings may only be mandatory for full-time staff, you should also invite your part-timers, per-diem workers, and temps. After all, if you hired someone, it means you were impressed with their professional qualifications. Why not take advantage of their experience and insight? Even more importantly, temps who are included in decision-making processes feel like they are part of the team.
Seek out their advice
Everyone likes to know their opinion is valued. When you ask for advice from your contract workers, you are telling them their skills and experience are valuable to you. In fact, since temporary workers often have experience at a wide variety of facilities, they are uniquely qualified to compare policies and procedures. With their insight, you may be able to drastically improve your productivity.
Make it a team effort
Your welcoming attitude won’t go far unless your whole staff shares your enthusiasm. Since some full-time workers naturally develop an “us versus them” attitude when it comes to contractors, short-term hires often feel unwelcome. To overcome this, you’ll need to train your staff and involve them in the process. Creating a more welcoming company culture will benefit everyone’s morale.
Looking to Connect With Your Temporary Employees More?
If you truly want to get the most out of your temporary employees, you’ll need to start with the best. Expert Staffing specializes in providing comprehensive staffing solutions to industrial clients throughout New England. Contact us today to learn more about our services.
